William "Bill" Edward Kelly, born on July 18, 1949, was called home to the Lord on August 21, 2022. The cause of death was an aortic aneurysm. Bill is survived by his only daughter, Maureen Catherine Kelly (Caitlin Clayton); Maureen's mother, Connie Kelly; his older brother John B. Kelly IV and his sister-in-law Nancy Kelly; nephew Jay Kelly (Meg); nephew Brian Kelly (Jeanne); niece Elizabeth Kelly; niece Sara Kelly (Ben Moormeier); grand niece Louise Kelly; grand nephews Will Kelly, Simon Kelly, and Wesley Kelly. He was preceded in death by his
father John B. Kelly III, and his mother Ruth (Reiswig) Kelly.
Bill was born and raised in South Minneapolis. In his youth, he was a dedicated Boy Scout spending summers at Many Point Scout Camp, creating fond memories. In high school he was a competitive wrestler, and this competitive spirit followed him throughout his life. He may or may not have been in a band, but he developed a lifelong love for music, learning to play the guitar. Some of his favorite artists included Barbra Streisand, The Beatles, Iron Butterfly, Josh Groban, and Judy Collins.
Bill graduated from De La Salle High School in 1967, the University of Minnesota in 1971 with a BA in Biochemistry, and Wayne State University in 1985 with an MBA. His first job was in Ann Arbor, MI working for Park Davis as a Biochemist. He developed into a manager position after completing his MBA. Later in life, he took on a position as a coordinator at Pro Life Action Ministries.
Bill loved to ski, sail, and camp. He met his future wife Connie on a ski trip to Afton Alps in1969. He was an accomplished skier who could take on black diamond runs with ease. Many winter vacations were spent in Aspen, Colorado, his favorite place to ski. For many years, he owned a JY15 sail boat, which he proudly raced in regattas, often placing 3rd (out of 3 boats). In Minnesota, the Gun Flint Trail was a favorite camping location in summertime. He shared all three of these hobbies with Maureen, teaching her at a young age and passing on a love of sports. He was a devout Catholic, and a Lifetime 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus member. Bill lived
his faith daily and understood the power of prayer.
There will be a visitation at Gill Brothers Southwest Minneapolis Funeral Home on Monday, August 29, 2022 from 4 PM to 7 PM (5801 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Annunciation Church at 11 AM on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, with a visitation starting at 10 AM, and lunch served after Mass (509 W 54th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419). Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery at 2 PM, following the luncheon (2101 Lexington Ave S, Mendota Heights, MN 55120).
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that any donations should be made to the American Heart Association.