Thomas's obituary
Thomas D. Kelly II, born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 10, 1948, peacefully passed away at the age of 75 in his home in Longmont, Colorado on October 15, 2023. Tom was the first born child to Thomas Kelly and Mabel (Marr) Kelly. He was a Vietnam War veteran who served as a medic with the rank of Sergeant, devoted father, environmental advocate, and a passionate champion of individual rights and social issues. His love for music, dance, the arts, and the great outdoors was an inspiration to all who knew him. His efforts to protect our wildlife habitats and reduce pollution left a lasting impact on his daughters. He believed in the power of conversation and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs.
Tom's professional career was marked by a commitment to science and the betterment of our environment. He had a dynamic career path, as he consistently juggled family, jobs and his pursuit of education. Notably he worked as a mechanical engineer for the Denver Mint and retired as a technical writer from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In retirement, he ran for US Congress, volunteered for Veterans for Peace, served on the board of the local library, and learned to play piano, fiddle, mandolin and ukulele.
Family was of paramount importance to Tom, and he cherished the role of Grandfather. He is survived by his daughters, Bernadette Morrissey (Timothy Morrissey) of Longmont, CO, and Cecilia Kelly (Russell Daniels) of Trinidad, CO, his grandchildren Donovan Morrissey, Sullivan Morrissey, and Kearney Daniels; His siblings Richard (Deborah) Kelly, Maureen Kelly, Eileen (Steven) Schallhorn, Kathleen (Richard) Clark, James Kelly, Mike (Gail) Kelly, and Sheila Kelly . He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings Mary Patricia Kelly, Colleen Ramirez, and Neil Kelly.
A memorial service to celebrate Tom's life will be held on 11/2/2023 at 1:30pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W Kenyon Ave Denver CO 80236. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to The Nature Conservancy (https://www.nature.org/en-us/) or Veterans for Peace (https://www.veteransforpeace.…) two causes dear to Tom's heart.
Bernadette and Cecilia would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all those who have offered support and condolences during this challenging time. Your love and friendship have been a great source of comfort, and your memories of our Daddy-O will forever hold a special place in our hearts.