August 2024

November 16,1928 - August 3,2024 Ned Lynn Kelsey, aged 95, passed away peacefully August 3, 2024 at his home in Paola, Kansas surrounded by his family. Services took place at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Paola. Burial was at St. Boniface Cemetery in Scipio. Ned was born on November 16,1928 in Greeley, Kansas and grew up on a farm there with his parents and five siblings. After graduating from Greeley High School, Ned served in the Air Force in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska for three years. When he returned, he worked in the Oklahoma oil fields. In 1950, Ned married Theresa Marie Mersman. Together they raised six children, moving frequently as he moved up the rank in the oil drilling business. He shared his love of sports playing baseball with his kids after a long day at work. In 1966 the Kelseys moved to Paola, Kansas. Ned was head of maintenance at Lakemary Center. He enjoyed friendships and life-experiences with the kids with disabilities. After getting a degree in refrigeration and appliance repair Ned enjoyed his own appliance repair business after retirement from Lakemary. Nearly everyone in Paola and the surrounding communities know of his excellent and friendly service. Ned still remembered peoples names, homes and appliances as he ran into them around town. He was known to take repair calls as far away as Louisiana, Arizona and California. It wasn’t uncommon for one of his kids to hold the phone in the freezer and say,” Dad, it’s making this noise.” He would diagnose the problem, order the part and tell them how to proceed with the repair. Later, Ned and Theresa returned to their country roots with a home at Sugar Valley Lake. It was a thrill teaching the grandkids about nature and wildlife and many of their grandchildren caught their first fish from the dock there and enjoyed “building stuff” with Grandpa in his workshop. After returning to Paola, Ned worked at Walmart putting grills and bicycles together for Santa. He also enjoyed havi