Obituaries

 

Philip G. Kelly

PORTAGE –  Philip G. Kelly, age 31, of Portage, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, October 22, 2011.

Phil was born in Portage on August 15, 1980, the son of Michael J. Kelly and Mary Kelly-Kingsley.  As a child he was very curious and active.  He attended St. Mary School, and was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.  He liked picnics, the beach, and going fishing with his Dad.  He would set up kool-aid stands and give truckers a sob story and make $1.00 on a cup of kool-aid.  He would then be off to the community pool.  He was an agile skate-boarder as a teenager.  During Phil’s teenage years, the mental health condition of anxiety and depression inflicted itself upon him.  He suffered from this for the rest of his life, and because of it, his earthly life’s potential was greatly limited.  His mother was his faithful companion on this most difficult journey.  In spite of all this, Phil was a very kind and caring person, never speaking ill of anyone.  Phil had worked for about three years for Country Life Ministries in Portage.  He also did temporary jobs for Mid-West Labor, John Gruber, and Infinite Abilities.  One summer, he had the opportunity to salmon fish near Soldotna, Alaska. 

He leaves to mourn his father and mother, Michael Kelly, Portage and Mary Kelly-Kingsley (James), Portage;  his older sisters, Anne (Andrew) Ruthenbeck and son, Cael, Gilbert, Minnesota, and Elizabeth Kelly-Schultz (Chris) and daughter, Gabriella, Madison;  his younger brothers, William (Megan) Kelly and daughters, Catherine and Cordelia, Alexandria, Virginia, and brother, Michael Kelly, San Diego, California.  He is further survived by his maternal grandmother, Catherine R. Helminiak, Eau Claire;  former step-mother, Kathleen L. Clark;  numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Harry H. Helminiak, and grandparents, Joseph and Catherine Kelly.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Jim Murphy presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, where a Scripture Service will be at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation will also be held from 11:00 a.m. until noon at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.

To my family:  “I’ll be waiting on the banks of the Jordan, I’ll be waiting drawing pictures in the sand, and when I see you come I’ll jump up with a shout and wade across the water and take your hand.”  Love, Phil

 

 

 

Obituaries
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