John Kelley

JOHN KELLEY

Vinton

John Matthew Kelley, 92, died Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at his residence following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton,

with Roger Uthoff officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 at the funeral home. Interment will be at Urbana Cemetery in Urbana. Friends may register at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until service time Monday.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Vinton Library and Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 of Vinton.

John was born Nov. 15, 1922, in Eldora to John William and Laura (Adams) Kelley, and graduated from Vinton's Lincoln High School in 1941. He then attended Indiana State College for two years.

From Nov. 7, 1942, until April 26, 1946, John served his nation in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the rank of corporal. He was a member of the Army Air Force Band. He was an active member of Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 of Vinton and became post bugler in 1984.

Music was an important part of John's life. He played for dances, at senior centers and at senior dining sites. He enjoyed playing the trumpet in the Vinton Community Band.

Before his retirement in 1985, he had been employed at LeFebure Corp. in Cedar Rapids as a sheet metal fabricator.

On Sept. 23, 1960, he was united in marriage to Mardene Frances Hawley in Vinton.

In addition to his wife, Mardene, he is survived by his son, Jerry Kelley of Cedar Rapids, and his sister, Margaret Cashman of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Wayne Kelley; and his sisters, Evelyn Wenner, Thelma Hays, Maxine Bantz and Joyce Witte.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneral homes.com.