Robert King Kelly

Robert King Kelly

Clarence

Robert King Kelly, 88, of Clarence, Iowa, died on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospice Unit, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A Celebration of Life is being planned at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 13, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Clarence, with Pastor Matt Schneider-Adams officiating. Visitation will also be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at St. John’s United Church of Christ. Burial will follow at the Clarence Cemetery.

King was born May 13, 1934, in Clarence, Iowa, to Lester and Irma Peabody Kelly. He graduated from Clarence Consolidated School in 1953. He married Connie Schaefer on June 19, 1960, at St. John’s UCC. Together they farmed north of Clarence until he retired. He attended Iowa State for two years, where he was a member of the competition rifle team. King served in the Army from 1955-57. He was a member of the U.S. Army Rifle Team.

He is survived by his wife, Connie; sons, Scott (Melody) of Kenosha, Wis., Steve (Janice) of Marion, Iowa; and daughter, Shannon Zwack (Brian) of Hiawatha, Iowa. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Adrienne (Richard) Markiewicz, Mount Pleasant, Wis., Amy (Josue) Perez, Cancun, Mexico, Ashlynn (Taylor) Robinette, Cedarville, Ohio, Alyssa (Luke) Richardson, Indianapolis, Ind., Sam and Anna Kelly, Marion, Iowa; and Kailee and Kiera Zwack, Hiawatha, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Owen and Elsie Robinette, and Amelia and Melody Markiewicz; sister-in-law, Lillian Kelly; brother-in-law, Gene Schaefer (Carla); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Irma Kelly; his in-laws, Leonard and Bernice Schaefer; infant sister, Marilyn Kelly; sister, Virginia Robinson; brother-in-law, Wayne Robinson; brother, Bert Kelly; nephew, Robin Kelly; great-granddaughter, Cora Markiewicz; sister-in-law, Linda Schaefer; and great-nephew, Tate Schaefer.

King’s impact on the community was seen in a variety of ways. He loved to be involved in the schools districts from Clarence-Lowden to North Cedar. He was a long time treasurer of the Clarence-Lowden Athletic Booster Club. He ran the clock at many home North Cedar basketball games. In 1992, he was honored with the Friend of Education Award from Clarence-Lowden Education Association. King served in leadership roles for many county organizations.

He was a certified volleyball official from 1989-2016. When King retired, he was one of the oldest certified officials in Iowa. He also served as a volunteer umpire for summer youth baseball programs in Clarence. For many summers he organized “King Kelly’s Kids Games” for Clarence Park Days.

In 1972 he earned his certified private pilot license. Many community people experienced their first airplane ride with him. King took great pride as a videographer for countless school, community events and weddings. Many families benefited from his skill behind the camera. He decided to retire from farming, to focus on his many hobbies, and it allowed King and Connie to travel extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries.

He was a 4-H leader for 30 years, growing the Harmony Hustlers 4-H club to the largest in Cedar County. He participated in 4-H leadership training throughout Eastern Iowa. King was the first inductee from Cedar County into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. In 1992, he received the Friend of Extension Award from Iowa State Extension.

During his lifetime, he was a member of the Clarence United Methodist Church. He served on boards, taught high school Sunday school, served as a youth leader and established the first video taping for broadcast on the local cable channel. Later he joined St. John’s UCC where he continued to share his video skills. In recent years, he was the coordinator for the St. John’s-HACAP Food Pantry.

Young people were very important to King. He believed volunteering is at the heart of the community and school district. That is why he dedicated so many hours to volunteer service for church, school and community.