

Thomas Craig Kelsey, age 70, died on Saturday, December 24, 2016 at his home in Safety Harbor, FL surrounded by his children. He was born June 20, 1946 in Chicago Illinois to Ross and Virginia (Myhrum) Kelsey and was the oldest of two children. After graduating in 1964 from Evanston Township High School, Evanston IL, he attended Stanford University, Stanford CA. Thomas enlisted in the US Army in 1966. He underwent basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and AIT at Fort Ord, CA, following which he attended OCS at Fort Benning, GA. He was commissioned in 1967. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, WA and then to the Republic of Vietnam where he arrived in 1968 in which he served as the Unit Commander for Co C 1st BN 26th Inf 1st Inf DIV. In 1969, Thomas retired as a Captain from the US Army with the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantry Badge with Rifle Bar. After retiring from the US Army, Thomas worked as a detective and auctioneer. He then went to work as the Show Manager for the Chicago, New York and Minneapolis Auto Shows for 30 years. Thomas had a love for travel in which he traveled to various countries on every continent except for Antarctica. Thomas was a philosopher, poet, writer and a seeker of all knowledge. He also had a true love of many different languages as he was fluent in Spanish and German and currently learning Greek. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, his father, Ross and his mother, Virginia. Thomas is survived by his sister, Diane (Tim) Noble of Boulder Junction WI, one son, John Kelsey of Colorado Springs CO, two daughters, Laura (Tom) Cockrum of Blakely GA, Catherine (William) Dagenhart of Blakely GA and seven grandchildren, Alexander, Elizabeth, Kelsey, Trey, Thomas, Andrew and Carol. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm at Sylvan Abbey funeral home, Clearwater FL on Thursday December 29. Graveside service will be at Bayview Cemetery, Pensacola FL December 31, 11:00 am.
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