Thomas W Kelsey

Thomas W. Kelsey July 1, 1926 - July 2, 2013

Thomas W. Kelsey, age 87 of Faribault, died Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at the Abbott- Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the First English Lutheran Church in Faribault, with Rev. Michael Mandsager, officiating. Interment will be at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault, with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Sunday from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. and on Monday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

Thomas William, the son of Harry and Mary (Wondra) Kelsey, was born on July 1, 1926 and raised in Cannon City Township, Rice County, MN. Tom served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. Tom was married to Ellen Jenson on July 25, 1950 at First English Lutheran Church. He worked initially with Lockerby Sheet Metal & Roofing, then for many years with Bauernfeind & Goedtel. Tom then worked as a custodian for the Faribault Vo-Tech and at Lincoln Elementary School in Faribault, along with driving cars for Harry Browns. In retirement Tom and Ellie enjoyed operating their own lawn care service. Tom enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing cards and bowling. He was a member of the American Legion Post 43, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1562, Faribault Eagles Aerie 1460, and Faribault Moose Lodge No. 2098.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ellen of Faribault; daughters, Suzanne (Gale) Cook of Faribault, Debra McDonald of Eagan, and Cherlyn (Duane) Ludwig of Paynesville; 11 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; brother, Joseph Kelsey of Mankato; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Mary Neegaard; brothers, Wilfred and Edward Kelsey; and sister, Genevieve Thatcher.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer''s Memory Walk in memory of Tom.