In Loving Memory
Richard "Rich" Kelly
June 26, 1959 - July 13, 2022

Rich's funeral service will be live streamed on the Martin Mattice Funeral Home Facebook page.

VISITATION
Friday, July 15, 2022
4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
Emmetsburg, Iowa

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Saturday, July 16, 2022
10:30 A.M.
Holy Family Catholic Church
Emmetsburg, Iowa

CELEBRANT
Rev. Bill Schreiber

INURNMENT
St. John's Catholic Cemetery
Emmetsburg, Iowa

Richard Paul Kelly was born on June 26, 1959 in Waterloo, Iowa, to Donald and Joanne (Kliegl) Kelly.  He passed from this world on July 13, 2022.

Rich attended Emmetsburg Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from Emmetsburg High school in 1978.  During high school, he was elected to the Emmetsburg City Council and was - and still is - the youngest ever to serve on the city council.

After high school, he studied political science at Iowa Lakes Community College and earned his associate degree in 1980 at which time he chose to resign from city government.

Rich's fierce interest in political science took him to the University of Iowa next where he received his bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in history in 1982.

He was  a substitute teacher of social studies and government in the Iowa City area until 1987 when his failing eyesight prompted a move back to his hometown of Emmetsburg.  It was here that he used a personal computer and the internet to begin a company specializing in desktop publishing.  He also supported himself by selling Irish folk music over the internet.

Rich's computer expertise and compassion led him to partner with Intuit and develop a Quickbooks tutorial that has helped others who are blind to find their independence in the realm of finance.

Through his computer business, Rich met Debra, who was also blind, at a conference in Minneapolis.  They married in 2004 and both found fullness in life solving everyday problems together, never letting their blindness affect their progress.  They lived independently and helped many throughout the community and the world to advance in their lives also.  They were inseparable until Debra's death in 2017.

Rich was a talented cook and baker and many throughout the community have enjoyed his creations.  He was also a master engineer with his miniature train sets.  He truly lived, and his life gives testimony to the Scripture verse:  We walk by faith and not by sight.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald; wife, Debra; and a sister, Lorraine Kahl.

Survivors include his mother Joanne, brothers Kevin (Cheryl) and Steve (Judy) and a sister, Mary Soukup.  As a Kelly and Kliegl descendent, Rich is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as beloved friends, both national and international, whom he met in his work with computers.

Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home