A Memorial Mass for William O. Kelly, age 95, of O'Neill, Nebraska will be 10:30 am Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill with Father Bernard Starman officiating. Inurnment will follow at the O'Neill Cemetery with Military Honors by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93. Memorial Visitation will be 5-7 pm Monday, July 10, 2023 at Biglin's Mortuary with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7 pm. Kelly passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at the Norfolk Veterans' Home in Norfolk, NE. Memorials are suggested to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglins Mortuary of O'Neill.

William Owen Kelly was born on September 5, 1927 in O'Neill, NE to James and Mary (Bain) Kelly. He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in 1945, where he really enjoyed sports, especially football. After graduation, he then enlisted into the United States Navy and served on the USS Caelum, the USS General H.W. Butner, where he spent time in the Great Lakes and Singapore.

Kelly returned to O'Neill after his Honorable Discharge in July of 1946 to work for his father at Kelly's Plumbing/Well Service. He was introduced to Marie Fox by his friends George and Opal Bosn, Opal just happened to be Marie's sister. He eventually followed Marie to California where they were united in marriage on January 27, 1951 in Paramount, CA.

They returned to O'Neill in 1953 where Kelly again worked for the family business. When his father passed suddenly in 1957, Kelly took over the company and added trenching to the business. He operated it until his retirement in 1998 when he sold out. Soon after his retirement, Marie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Kelly became her caregiver until he was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in 2006. Marie passed away in 2009.

He enjoyed fishing and traveling. Starting in 1991, the couple spent many winters in South Padre, TX. Kelly was an avid Husker fan, loved the tv shows MASH and Gunsmoke. He enjoyed playing Monopoly with his family.

Kelly was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion.

He is survived by his two children, Dana (Kord) Benson of O'Neill, NE and John (Trudy Freudenburg) Kelly of Norfolk, NE; two grandsons, Joe Kelly and Thomas (Bethany) Kelly; siblings, Eileen Spittler of Beaverton, OR and Jim (Virginia) Kelly of El Paso, TX; brother-in-law, Jerry Austin of Norfolk, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

William is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marie Kelly in 2009; daughter-in-law, Margaret Kelly in 2007; brothers, Fritz Kelly and George Kelly; and sister, Mary Lois Austin.

Family requests casual attire at visitation and funeral.