Charlie J. Kelly

Charles J. “Charlie” Kelly, 66, of St. Paul died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Rayappa Konka will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Charlie was born on Aug. 13, 1952, in St. Paul, the son of John and Gertrude (Casey) Kelly. He grew up on a farm near Greeley and attended District No. 19 country school from 1957 to 1962. He then attended Sacred Heart Catholic School until his graduation in 1970. He was united in marriage to Lori A. Baker on June 18, 1988, at Ord. This past June they celebrated their 30th anniversary. Charlie was blessed with five children to share his life. Charlie always had a love for baseball. During the 1980's he was associated with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He traveled with the Cardinals to various cities and ballparks. Charlie had various occupations in Nebraska until moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1982. He was employed at a number of different casinos, holding many diverse positions and was also instrumental in the initial opening of several casinos. Charlie then exchanged his suit and tie for a hard hat and steel toed boots when he met the requirements to join the Operating Engineers Local 12 in 1998. The majority of his job sites were in Nevada and parts of California. His overall favorite position was running high tower cranes until his retirement in 2014. Charlie was an avid hunter and was the happiest being outdoors. He was extremely proud of his Irish heritage and cherished the music and history of Ireland. He made several trips to Ireland making sure all his children had this experience and his last journey was this past May. Charlie enjoyed his retirement years in the home he built by the North Loup River near St. Paul. In the warmer months he loved sitting out by the river and taking the pontoon boat to fish on the lake. Charlie was the happiest when he was surrounded with family and friends. He was always up for a card game and planning the next event to get together. He loved giving his ten grandchildren a hard time. He savored the moments he would take them on the 4 wheeler and fishing. Charlie was a story teller and many times he would challenge the grandchildren to questions regarding Ireland, state capitols, etc.. Charlie will remain 66 years old forever. He is survived by his wife, Lori Kelly of St. Paul; two sons, John Kelly and Sean Kelly, both of Las Vegas; three daughters and one son-in-law, Stephanie and Dean Erickson, Kimberly Kelly and Kalie Kelly, all of Las Vegas; ten grandchildren, Kyrsten Wood of Austin, TX; Gracy, Grady and Grant Kelly; True, Zoee and Mylz Erickson; Jaylen and Cambree Kelly-Moore; and Jaina Marie Kelly, all of Las Vegas; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Ellen and Art Peck of Lava Hot Springs, ID and Eileen and Chuck Viator of Iowa Park, TX; sisters-in-law, Donna Kelly of Oakland, IA and Emily Kelly of Ely, NV; father-in-law, Dean Baker of Carleton; sisters-in-law and spouses, Shelli Buhr of Cortland and Stacey and Lathan McLaughlin of Hebron; brother-in-law and spouse, Steve and Jill Baker of Hebron; two aunts, Lorraine Kelly of Greeley and Sister Columba Casey of St. Catharine, KY; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Leo Kelly, Robert Kelly and Gerald Kelly; and his mother-in-law, Shirley Baker. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.