Katherine H. “Kay” (Reisch) Kelley, age 86, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully at 2:24 a.m., on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at Stonehill Care Center, surrounded by her loving family, 9 years to the day after her beloved husband Neil. To honor Kay’s life, funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, January 18, 2019, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church, 1701 Rhomberg Avenue, with Rev. Dwayne J. Thoman officiating. To celebrate Kay’s life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m., until 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Kay was born on November 30, 1932, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Albert and Lucille (Herkes) Reisch.

Kay was a life long Dubuque resident, and a proud graduate of the Immaculate Conception Academy, Class of 1950, and for more than 20 years she cherished getting together for luncheon Tuesday with her classmates. After school, Kay went to work at the Sunbeam Bakery, before marrying the love of her life, Neil Kelley, on February 28, 1952, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The two were blessed with 59 wonderful years together, and 6 children, before he was sadly called home ahead of her on January 15, 2010. Kay was a devoted full time wife, mother and homemaker, who took great pride in caring for her children and home, and her love of helping children would lead her to take a job with Prodigy Child Development later in life, just to secretly be able to sit and rock the babies. Family was the most important aspect of Kay’s life, and some of her fondest memories were of road trips with Neil and the children, which no doubt, always turned into an adventure and once even saw Kay getting left behind at a rest area. In her free time, Kay also enjoyed playing bingo and crocheting various treasures to be shared with family and friends. She had a kind, giving soul, and loved helping others, a trait she passed on to her family. She and Neil were excellent role models for the children, and were actively involved members with Handicapped Persons Inc. for 20 years. We are deeply saddened at the loss of our sweet Miss Kay, and will miss her smile which lit up the room and brought joy to everyone around her, but take some comfort in knowing she is now in heaven with her beloved husband and son, and all of her deceased family members, awaiting our eventual arrival.

Those left to cherish Kay’s memory include

her children,
Mike (Carol Ender) Kelley, Dubuque, IA,
Patty (David) Pregler, Zwingle, IA,
Dennis (Karilee) Kelley, Potosi, WI,
Collin (Stephanie Friedman) Kelley, Dubuque, IA
and Bruce (Wendy) Kelley, Dubuque, IA;

her 16 grandchildren;

her 23 great-grandchildren;

her 1 great great-grandson;

her siblings,
John Reisch,
Sr. Mary Lou Reisch, OSF,
Ginny O’Connell
and Carol Oglesby, all of Dubuque, IA;

and her sisters-in-law,
Naomi Reagan
and Mary Weis, both of Dubuque, IA.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Neil Kelley; her son, David Kelley; a grandson, Brian Kelley; a great-grandson, Layne Lawson; a sister Linda Reisch; and a brother Billie Reisch in infancy.

Miss Kay’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and staff of Stonehill, and Hospice of Dubuque, for all of the wonderful care they have provided Miss Kay and her family.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among her favorite charities.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com