Bernard J. Kelly

BERNARD KELLY

Bernard Jepson Kelly was born on November 3, 1920 in Denver, CO to parents James & Elsie Kelly. His parents had recently relocated from Scranton, PA seeking better health and new beginnings in the deep blue sky and drier air of the Rockies.

Bernard and his younger sister, Dorothy (who passed away just two weeks ago), grew up in a modest home in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver. Because of their dad’s poor health and the Depression, times were not easy for Bernard and Dorothy. Even as children, Bernard and his sister helped their parents in every way they could. They worked at an early age to supplement the family income and learned the value of a hard –earned dollar. Bernard’s father always told him of the importance of education which, later in life, Bernard himself pursued and then passed the same advice on to his own children.

After graduating from East High School, Bernard worked as a grocery clerk and deliveryman. It wasn’t long after that Bernard was drafted into the Army Air Corps and was stationed on remote islands of the Philippines and New Guinea, half- a-world away from Colorado. After the war, Bernard returned to Denver and married his sweetheart and former next-door neighbor, Jean Reed. Bernard and Jean started their life together at 1232 Detroit Street, living with Jean’s mother and grandparents. During that time, he worked at multiple jobs while also attending the University of Denver. He also became a new dad with the birth of his first daughter, Nancy. Doing his homework late in the evenings, he obtained his business degree from DU and started his career.

Bernard’s job then moved the Kelly family to Alamosa and it wasn’t long before his second daughter, Eileen, was born and the family returned to Denver. Bernard and Jean settled down in Edgewater, buying a home and soon after giving birth to their son, Jim. It was here that the Kelly’s raised their children and celebrated many happy occasions with family, friends and neighbors. Active in the newly formed Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Bernard taught Sunday school in temporary structures as the church was constructed.

Bernard found personal enjoyment in many facets of daily life that many of us lose sight of in today’s daily grind. In his youth, he loved reading books, working on his Model “A”, hanging out with friends at City Park and family trips to Georgetown. As a young husband, Bernard enjoyed fishing with “Uncle Chap”, his “Aunt Kate’s” cooking, and going with Jean to see the Big Bands play at Elitch Gardens. As a father, he enjoyed reading stories to his children, playtime with the girls, building model trains with Jimmy and watching TV with the family on Sunday nights.

As an emotionally private man, Bernard found his own special beauty in Colorado sunsets, the late September gold of aspen groves, the California coast, visiting local libraries, reading about the American west and sharing a laugh with friends over a beer or late night with Johnny Carson. He developed a love of poetry in his youth and always seemed to have a book of poems or the latest novel from the library on his nightstand.

Bernard was preceded in his passing by his wife of 60 years, Jean. He leaves behind his children, Nancy and Craig Owens, Eileen and Jim Sharpe and Jim Kelly and Rob Hubler. Bernard was a grandfather to Karen and Gary Province and Mike Owens. He also leaves behind a great-grandchild, Alex Province and two nephews Gary and Tom Carter.

Bernard passed away July 29, 2012. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5-7pm with services on Thurs. at 3:00 pm, both at Crown Hill Mortuary. Following the chapel service, he will be laid to rest with his wife Jean.