Claire R. Kelley, 92, of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Wesley Willows. He was born April 6, 1930 in Allerton, Iowa to parents Argyle and Eva Bryan Kelley, He grew up on a farm in Allerton and graduated in 1948 from Allerton High School where he played the french horn in the school band.
He graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in 1953 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. He met his wife Margot at Iowa State and they were married in June 1953 at Gary Memorial United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Illinois.
He served in the US Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Washington through the ROTC program from 1953 to 1955. He was in the Army Reserve for the next 12 years as he worked for Swift and Company in St. Joseph, Missouri.
While Claire and Margot lived in St. Joseph, their son, Richard, was born and in 1967 the couple moved from St. Joseph to Rocford, Illinois for a job with Quaker Oats and Company.
They had started adoption proceedings while in St. Joseph and to their amazement, they were completed and the couple adopted their daughter, Cheryl, at the same time they were moving to Rockford, Illinois.
Claire was a purchasing agent for 21 years until Quaker closed at which time he went to work for Counselor and Co. for five years at which time he retired and worked for Landmark as a city driver.
Claire and Margot became members of Christ United Methodist Church in 1967 and he served on several committees over the years including the trustees, the board, organ committee, garden committee and couples social committee.
Claire’s love of gardening caught his interest early on and he became a life member of the Men’s Garden Club of America. He was president of the local club for one year and Treasurer for over 12 years. One of the projects they took on was the development of the Rose Garden at Sinnissippi Gardens.
Claire also had a passion for bowling and was involved in a local men's bowling league for several decades. For a period of ten years Claire served on the board for the Barbara Olson School of Hope.
Claire is loved and missed by his son Richard, daughter Cheryl, daughter-in-law Ruth, grandsons Josh and Ben, and great-granddaughters Ashlyn, Alanna, Samantha, Parker, Olivia, Tatum, Jenna and McKenzie.
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