Kelsey, James Melvin

James Melvin Kelsey, 77, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital from a long-term illness. Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, St. Patrick Catholic Church, by the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A vigil service will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and again Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.

James is survived by his wife, Kathryn; four children, Ray (Karen) Kelsey and Rose Kelsey, both of Cedar Rapids, Rhonda (Buddy) Curry of Dothan, Ala., and Michael (Kaye) Downing of Long Branch, Wash.; brother, Claude (JoAnn) Kelsey of Palo; three sisters, Evelyn and the late Thede Snethen of Palo, Mary (Arnold) Port of Cedar Rapids and Edna and the late John Simnacher of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Audrey (Robert) Wright of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, James (Judy) Fairchild of Webster; brother-in-law, Michail (Pam) Kane of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Janet (Daryl) Aler of Cedar Rapids; 13 grandchildren; and 28 grandchildren with one on the way.

James was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Carolyn Kane Kelsey; two daughters, Roberta Kies and Ramona Dunlap; two grandsons, Jamie Kies and Damon Saffold; and two great-grandsons, Justin and Michael Kelsey.

James was born Nov. 15, 1932, in Alburnett, the son of Harold and Rosella Mittan Kelsey. He married Kathryn Fairchild on Nov. 30, 1963, in Cedar Rapids. James worked at Ilten's as a sheet metal journeyman for 30 years, retiring in 1994. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Memorials may be directed to the American Lung Association for COPD research or to St. Luke's Hospice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at