Donald Lee Kelly

Donald “Don” Lee Kelly age 88, of Edmond, OK, formally of Onawa, IA and San Jose, CA passed away at his residence on May 5, 2023 after a four year battle with cancer.

A celebration of life service will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 22, 2023, at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa, with Darren C. E. Goslar, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Don’s obituary. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will follow in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Donald Lee Kelly was born to Tom and Madie (Romine) Kelly on November 18, 1934 in Kellyville, OK. When Don was six years old, the family moved to Campbell, CA where he completed his education. In 1953, he was united in marriage with Jane Pierce and to this union two sons were born, Danny Curtis and Gary Don. The couple would later divorce.

Don relocated to Manhattan Beach, CA for approximately a year and was employed by an aircraft plant before returning to Campbell, CA and starting a lifelong career in the drywall business.

On October 3, 1964 Don married Dona Phipps McCall and gained two step-children, Scott Michael and Darcy Lea McCall. In 1976 the family moved to Onawa, IA where Don operated Kelly Drywall for five years before returning to California due to health issues in the family. In 1991 the couple moved to Oklahoma where they are currently residing.

Don loved racing and was a member of NASCAR for twenty plus years as a driver and later as an official. In 2004 Don purchased an RV and the couple joined Frontier Sam’s RV Chapter in Oklahoma City spending the next sixteen years traveling and making many new friends along the way. Don never stopped wanting to learn new things, and at the age of 80 he took a small engine repair class at a local vo-tech and did repairs on lawn equipment. He also enjoyed reading and working on puzzles.  His greatest joy was spending time with family and was known by his great-grandchildren as Big Papa.   

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Dona, of the home, son Gary Kelly of San Jose, CA, step-son Scott McCall of San Jose, CA, three grandchildren, Pat Bryan, Kelli Wilson and Ryan McCall. Seven great-grandchildren, Amelia & Aiden Bryan, Adriana Rodriguez, Riley and Chloe Wilson and Scarlett & Madeline McCall. Brother-in-law, Gary Phipps (Beverly Moore), sisters-in-law Kathy Shelton, Becky Wakehouse (Bob Walker) and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Don was proceeded in death by his son Dan Kelly, step-daughter Darcy McCall Komarek, parents Tom and Madie Kelly, brothers Tom and Floyd Kelly, sisters Della Foreman, Edith Harwood, Pauline Titus, and Virgie Romine.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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