John "Jack" Kelly

Some men are simply born to lead, through their word and deed, by their strength, character and charisma. John Kelly was such a man, a man others couldn't help but look up to, and to follow. Yet John was also the rare man who led without ego, without pomp or pretense. He was a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, but more than anything, John Kelly was a man who made others better simply by knowing him.

John's tale began on a cloudy spring day in 1934 in the city of Liverpool, England. Once a major industrial hub in the northwest part of the country, Liverpool, like much of the world, was suffering from a recession, and times were tough for many. One day the city would become world-famous for a quartet of "Scousers," (as Liverpudlians are called) known as The Beatles, but in 1934, things were difficult. Yet on May 1, 1934, John and Rose (McConlough) Kelly had right reason to celebrate, with the birth of their first child, a son they named John, after his father.

John's father was what we'd consider a professional athlete today, and a brilliant footballer, boxer and international cricket player. Little John was also quite athletically talented, yet he also inherited his father's sportsmanship and leadership.

When John was but eight years old, his family got a little bigger, with the birth of his sister Margaret. John, little man that he was, took on a lot of responsibility and helped raise her. That was John, though, even then doing what needed to be done to help.

He also knew how to have fun, and lots of it. John was always full of fun, and loved to play billiards and snooker, sneaking into the halls around Liverpool, getting on a blinder and beating the much older players. John was very tall for his age, and was often mistaken for an older teen. At the age of 14, he even won a snooker tournament, and even though they were chagrined to learn he was so young, they let him keep the trophy (after some arm-wringing by John's famous father). John was also a brilliant, medal-winning swimmer, and also won many medals as captain of his water polo team. He was a right good golfer, to boot, and carried a single-digit handicap!

John attended St. Frances Xavier School in Liverpool, and then Liverpool Tech College, to study engineering. While in college he also continued his stellar athletic career, as well. After graduating from the school in 1952, John enlisted in the British Army, at the age of 17 1/2. Such a brilliant athlete, he was sent to the R-EME Paratroops division, part of the British Special Forces unit, and completed several missions that were top secret and often off the books.

Of course, John was never a man to boast about his accomplishments, either on the field or in the field. Soon, though, he would find something he would boast about: his family.

When John was but 14, he saw this young girl roller skating up the street, and said to himself, "That's the girl I'm going to marry." So he introduced himself to that young girl named Sylvia (then but 13 herself), and the two became friends. When they were 15 or 16, they went dancing together often (they were both very good dancers). Sylvia went to a different school than John, but when they were 18 or so, they began getting serious, having dated on and off over the years.

When John was discharged from the British service, he made good on that promise to himself all those years before, and the two were married January 7, 1956 in Speke, England. With such a long courtship, it was just a short time before the newlyweds started a family, and were blessed with daughter Lynn soon afterward.

But John wanted something better for his family than what the war-torn Liverpool had to offer. The city was heavily bombed during World War II, and the housing conditions there had become undesirable. John had made friends with people who had gone to Windsor, Canada, and he packed up his growing family and moved there, as well, in March of 1957.

John took whatever job he could find to support his family, and toiled in the mines of Sault Ste. Marie. Socking money away, John and his wife and daughter then moved to Chicago that August, and later Ohio, where he took short-lived jobs with Chrysler and Ford. John and Sylvia also welcomed a baby boy while in Ohio, a son they named Michael.

Eventually, though, John thought best to move the family to Australia, where the family stayed for nearly two years. Finally, he and his family moved back to the States, to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he found a career, and a home. John and Sylvia also welcomed the last of their wonderful children in Kalamazoo, their son Neil.

John began working at the General Motors plant in Kalamazoo, and quickly got involved in the active union there. John was a natural leader, remember, and worked his way up the union ranks, eventually becoming president and then chairman. He then went into the Health and Safety department of the plant, where he continued to fight for his fellow workers. John started the "Right to Know Act," and brought up many issues at the city commission meetings.

John finally retired after 30 years with GM, at the age of 63. It afforded he and Sylvia the chance to continue their extensive travels, always a pastime of theirs, in greater length. The two traveled all over, in this country and back in the UK. John was a proud Scouser, and loved to watch his beloved Liverpool FC team take 'em to pieces on the hallowed grass at Anfield. He also loved to watch golf, particularly Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, two of his contemporaries.

He had many other loves, of course, especially politics, and was also a man of great faith who loved going to church. He also always had boats, and the family lived on Long Lake for a few years, as well, where they made so many wonderful memories.

Family was always first with John, of course, and he was a brilliant father. He was so compassionate, and he loved to have fun and laugh with his children. He taught them so many things; how to play billiards, how to be strong swimmers like himself, and so much more. Most of all, he taught them how to be fine people, just as he was. John was a man of such high morals and values, a man of amazing integrity, and diplomacy. He had rules that needed to be followed, of course, but he was never a dictator, rather a facilitator.

Yet John never needed to force people to follow him, they were always happy to. He was a man others couldn't help but look up to, and to follow. John led without ego, without pomp or pretense, only with strength and conviction. He was a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, but more than anything, John Kelly was a man who made others better simply by knowing him. He will be greatly missed.

John N. Kelly, age 72 of Kalamazoo, died on June 27, 2006 at his home. He was born May 1, 1934 in Liverpool, England, the son of John and Rose (McConlough) Kelly. Learn more about John, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at the LIFE STORY FUNERAL HOME, BETZLER, Stadium Drive (West of US-131) 375-2900 where services will take place Friday 11:00 AM followed by burial in West Oshtemo Cemetery. Members of John's family include his wife Sylvia E. Kelly; three children: Lynn (Dan) Doyle of El Dorado Springs, MO; Michael (Karen) Kelly of Wayland; Neil (Christie) Kelly of Kalamazoo; nine grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a sister Margaret Morton of Portugal and many nieces and nephews. Please visit John's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, archive a favorite memory, or upload pictures. Memorial contributions may be made to the The Rock, mission funds or Borgess VNA Hospice.