Daniel A. Kelly, Jr.

Daniel A. Kelly, Jr., 91, of Crystal, passed away peacefully at home on August 22, 2022.

Dan lived a fulfilling life as a husband, father, grandfather and friend. Born November 12, 1930, he spent his early childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the only child to Daniel and Margaret Kelly.  Later, the family moved to various midwest cities for his father's construction jobs, before settling in Peoria, Illinois, where Dan graduated from Spalding Catholic High School. After serving as a Marine in the Korean War, he attended St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, where he met the love of his life, Jeanne Lynch Kelly, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The two wed in 1959, and for fifty years they created a beautiful family, fished the countless bays of Lake of the Woods with Tomahawk friends, and shared many four-legged golden companions, until Jeanne preceded him in death in 2010. They raised four children together - Kevin (Barbara) Kelly, Anne O’Mara Kelly, Megan (Mark) Malik, and Daniel (Laurie) Kelly.

Dan taught English for Roseville schools and De La Salle High School for over thirty  years, and reveled in learning math in his retirement. He also “tended bar” on the weekends at the Cafe di Napoli in downtown Minneapolis to make ends meet for his growing family. He loved fishing, reading, gardening, yelling at Pittsburgh Steelers and Notre Dame football, and his Irish heritage. He was a faithful member of St. Joseph Catholic Community in New Hope. He also fiercely loved his former golden retrievers, Kelly, Casey, Kodi, and Chip, as well as his current pup, Murphy, who is sure to ask for his peanut butter bones for years to come.

In addition to his children, Dan is survived by 11 grandchildren, Ashley (Daniel) Schwartz, Madison (Bryan) Kelly, Allison (Jeremy) Kelly, Matthew (Christine) Butorac, Kelly Butorac, Joseph (Devika) Kelly, Daniel Butorac, Camry Kelly, Caden Kelly, Caelan Malik and Brody Kelly. His legacy will also continue to live on through his 3 great grandchildren, Henry and Parker Schwartz, and Penny Butorac.

In keeping with his nature, funeral mass and interment will be private and for immediate family only at the Historic Little Church of St. Joseph Parish.

For those wishing to honor Dan’s life, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s University “In Memory of Daniel A. Kelly”: 700 Terrace Heights, Box 21, Winona, MN 55987.

“Until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”