Howard Kelly

Howard Edward Kelly was born February 7, 1917, the son of Clarence and Grace Dieter Kelly. He died Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, at the age of ninety-three.
Howard was born in Odebolt, Iowa. He received his education in Vail, Iowa, and graduated from Vail High School with the class of 1935. He then attended watchmaker school and also studied gemology. In 1938 he purchased the jewelry store in Denison and began operating Kelly Jewelry. He enlisted in the United States Navy on March 9, 1942, and served until his honorable discharge October 6, 1945.
On February 16, 1943, he was united in marriage to Earleen Wallace at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. The couple made their home in Denison and were blessed with the birth of five children. Howard operated Kelly Jewelry from 1938 until moving to Columbus, Nebraska, in 1973 where he purchased Froemel Jewelry, operating it until retiring in 1983.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Those who knew him regarded him as a genuine "gentleman." He loved horses and working with 4-H children. He was an early member of the American Gem Society (AGS) and of the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO). He served as President of RJO and was on the Examining Board for watchmaker licensing. He was a member of the VFW, Kiwanis, Nebraska and South Dakota Jewelers Association, and the Quarter Horse Association of Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Earleen; two sisters: Helen Crane and Sister Mary Clare Kelly; and one brother, Robert Kelly. Survivors include one son, Richard Kelly and his wife, Kathy of Melbourne, Iowa; four daughters: Kathleen Priborsky and her husband, Dennis of Mt. Home, Arkansas; Elaine Quinn and her husband, Rodney of Littleton, Colorado; Marilyn King and her husband, Steve of Kiron; and Mary Clare Stephan and her husband, Craig of Columbus, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Rita Lally and her husband, Joe of Denison, formerly of Vail; numerous relatives and friends.