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Roger L. Kelly, 83, of Bellevue, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
Roger Lewis Kelly was born on Jan. 17, 1941, to Dr. Miles William Kelly and Dorothy Ruth Hopper Kelly in Ayer, Massachusetts. His father was an Army physician and was stationed at Fort Devens at that time. Roger was the third child of the family that would eventually have six children. He spent most of his early years in Addison and Bath, New York. The family moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, when Roger was in sixth grade and his father was transferred to work at the VA Hospital there. He graduated from Grand Island High in 1960. He then graduated with a degree in education from Kearney State Teachers College.
On June 3, 1962, he married the love of his life, Karen Schmidt. They settled in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he had a fantastic career teaching high school chemistry and biology. He had a wonderful knack of helping students who had difficulty learning and had many students return to thank him for being their favorite teacher. After retirement, he and Karen traveled extensively with their favorite cruise being the one to Alaska. He volunteered for the Kiwanis, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. He was the most wonderful brother and an exceptional uncle to his nieces and nephews, and they all loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; his parents and in-laws; his brothers, Douglas and Marc; his sister-in-law, Dee Dee Kelly; brother-in-law, Robert Schmidt and his wife, Patricia.
He is survived by his brothers, Frank Kelly of Papillion, Nebraska, and Bruce Kelly of Des Moines; sister, Margaret Turk of Creston; sister-in-law, Connie (Gary) Springer of Waukee; nieces and nephews: Jeff (Gwynne) Turk of Lake Lotawana, Missouri, Christopher Turk of Creston, Alexander (Denise) Turk of Chisago City, Minnesota, Deena (Don) Stubbs of Bellevue, Nebraska, Michael (Vanessa) Kelly of Des Moines, Angie (Nick) Gehl of Des Moines, Melissa Kelly Delaney of Waukee, Sheila (Ted) Trampe of Hastings, Nebraska, and Bradley (Joyce) Schmidt of Hastings, Nebraska; numerous great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Visitation was held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary with funeral services following at 10 a.m.. Burial was in Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Memorials are suggested to Eagles Club of Bellevue or Kiwanis Club of Bellevue.