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Donald "Don" Kelley, 73, of Otho, passed away on September 3, 2023 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge. He ended his fight with cancer surrounded by his family. Service will be 10:30 AM on Monday, September 11, 2023, at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Fort Dodge.
Don was born in Sioux City, IA to Velma (Martin) and Delbert Kelley, on January 22, 1950. He graduated from Lake City High School in 1968 where he developed lifelong bonds with his closest friends. After high school he worked in high line construction then driving semi-truck. He met his wife of 38 years, Tammy Mason, married in 1973. Don worked as a milk man (driver) for Anderson Erickson Dairy for 33 years. His loyalty to AE was steadfast, as none of the family would ever want to be caught with any other brand of dairy in their fridge.
The milkman jokes were plenty when Don and Tammy had their children Scott Kelley and Kennedy (Kelley) Vangilder. Their formative years were full of the typical "dad" situations- like getting yelled at for holding the flashlight- and some atypical situations- like banning talk of time travel at the dinner table. Both Scott and Kennedy tell stories of their childhood with great fondness and a lot of laughter.
Don loved his children and would do anything for them, but in reality, they were just vessels that helped bring his favorite humans into this world, his grandchildren: Cameron Brown, Jacob Martinez, and Joey, Jonny and Jillian Kelley. Affectionately nicknamed "Pops", he lived to spoil his granddaughters, watch his grandsons on stage or on the field, and have the best excuse to eat as much junk food as humanly possible.
Don contributed not only fond memories to his family, but also to his community. Don was a member of the Otho Volunteer Fire and Rescue for 20 years. He enjoyed helping people and being a part of something bigger than himself. He loved fighting fires- but also lighting fireworks on the 4th of July (and maybe his lawn once). In recent years, he blew up more fireworks than any one person should- in Tammy's honor and just because it's fun.
Don is survived by his children, Scott and Mandi Crouse-Kelley and Kennedy VanGuilder, his grandchildren, Cameron, Jacob, Joey, Jonny and Jillian and his great granddaughter, Piper Martinez. He was preceded in death by his wife, Tammy, his parents, and brother and sister.
He was always a gentleman, a heck of a golfer, a wonderful dad, loving and doting Pops, and above all, a great man.