Funeral services for Marilyn Kelly, 74, of Windom, Minnesota, will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, October, 18, 2014, at the Evangelical Free Church in Windom, located at 416 10th Street.
Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Windom.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2014, at LaCanne Family Funeral Home in Windom. The funeral home is located at 2280 6th Avenue.
Marilyn Kelly passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.
Marilyn Irene Kelly was born to Ingvald and Mabel Haugsness on July 23, 1940 on a farm near Jasper, Minnesota, where she was raised and attended school. After her graduation from Jasper Public High School, she attended Mankato State for two years until she met her husband, Jack Kelly. They were married on January 30, 1960 in Mankato, Minnesota.
Marilyn and Jack have four children – Kent, Kimberly, Kerry and Kristi – who were the light of her life.
In 1987, she went to work at the Toro Company in Windom as the administrative secretary and receptionist. She was the first smiling face for many who entered the Toro Company for over 25 years, where she was able to be a friendly and helpful beacon of light for those around her at Toro. In 2012, she retired after she learned of her diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer.
Marilyn could often be found sharing her love of God to others in word, but more importantly in her actions. Marilyn was a member of the Windom Evangelical Free Church, where she attended Bible study, worked in the nursery, served on serving circles and was on the prayer chain. She thought the best of people and she treated others with grace and respect.
Marilyn’s greatest love after Christ was her family. She had the ability to make each of her grandchildren feel like they were her favorite. She took joy in their accomplishments, was supportive of their activities and enjoyed their company. She spent endless hours reading to the grandchildren over the years.
Throughout her life, Marilyn had a passion for many things. She loved any and all sports. She was a model coach’s wife and she attended games, made caramel rolls for Jack’s basketball team and had endless opportunities to socialize with coaches’ wives. Those sports families were her extended family and became her life-long friends. Most recently you could find her at her grandchildren’s sporting events to cheer them on.
Another passion for Marilyn was that of her love of fresh air, sunshine and exercise. It was more than a matter of staying fit. For Marilyn, it was also a social activity and she tended to friendships like others tend to their gardens.
Marilyn had the privilege and ability to have a long goodbye with family and friends. She experienced another two summers with her grandchildren at Okoboji, attended Bible study and spent time with those she loved. Her community of friends and all who prayed for her surrounded her with so much love and, in the end, they all gave her the strength she needed to say goodbye.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jack, her four children, their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and their spouses. These include Kent (Nancy) Kelly and children Forrest (Susanna), Jack (Kaley), Katie, Liam, Elizabeth and Lauren of Windom; Kimberly (Steve) Sommer and children Cody, Kent, Josiah, James and Minhyuk Park of Roseveille, Minnesota; Kerry (Dave) Koenen and children Jorge and Alejandro of St. Paul, Minnesota and Kristi (Troy) Kelly Raverty and children Alexis, Tessa and Declan of Roseville.
Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Barbara and uncle, Norman.