Ray L. Kelly

Ray L. Kelly, 89 of Onalaska, died on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. He was born June 5, 1927 in Mankato, Minn. to Joseph and Cora (Mattheisen) Kelly. Ray married Marjorie Evans and she preceded him in death following a bout with cancer.

Ray proudly served in the United Navy during WWII and later during the Korean War. On December 30, 1961, he married Mary Theresa Keefe in North Mankato, Minn. He had worked for the Continental Can Company and was transferred to La Crosse in 1966. He later took a position as an electrician for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he worked for many years until his retirement.

Ray enjoyed anything mechanical and could fix just about everything. He especially enjoyed tinkering with electricity. Ray was named “Irishman of the Year” in 1993, and in 2015, he was honored to visit Washington D.C. on the Freedom Honor Flight.

In addition to his wife, Mary he is survived by two daughters; Janice Vinson and Maureen (Robert) Ratajczyk both of Holmen; a son, Paul (Margarita) Kelly of Silverdale, Wash.; grandchildren, Damian (Leah) Kelly, Krista (Jason) Hohlfeld, Christopher (Anna) Vinson, Aaron Vinson, Kelvin (Amber) Kelly, Lilly Ann Kelly, Ann Marie Kelly, Paul (Morgan) Kelly, Jr., Mark Arcilla, Seth Ratajczyk and Paige Ratajczyk; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Patrick, Liam, Samantha, Chelsea, Cali, Veda, Emma, Lily and Cole, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Kelly in 1984, 5 sisters and 3 brothers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, April 19 ^th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska with Monsignor Steven Kachel officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 P.M. at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska with a rosary to be recited at 5:00 P.M.; and on Wednesday at the church from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or Freedom Honor Flight.

The family wishes to thank the priests and ministers for their prayers and blessings. Also for the nurses and hospice staff for Ray's wonderful care for him and us. Thank you to all the wonderful people who prayed for Ray and us. God will reward you! He has his heavenly reward!