Kenneth Allen Kelsch

Kenneth Allen Kelsch, 75, 41-year-resident of Bellport and formerly of Whitestone, entered into Eternal Life on September 2, 2022, at Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, New York, after a fierce and courageous battle with ill health due to the effects of his exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Born on March 5, 1947, in Jackson Heights, New York, to the late Erwin Jacob Kelsch and Helen Ruth Luce, and raised in Whitestone, Ken was a 1965 graduate of Flushing High School. He proudly served his country in the US Army, where he was stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Following his service in the US. Army, Ken worked for New York Telephone, which later became Bell Atlantic and then Verizon, first in Maspeth, New York, and retiring from Lake Grove, New York, where he was a Cable Splicing Technician. On April 3, 1976, he married Victoria Lynn Orsati, in Malverne, New York, and they lived in Whitestone, New York, for the first five years of their marriage, when they welcomed the birth of their four children, Victoria, Vanessa, Matthew, and Michael. In 1981, they moved from Whitestone to Bellport, when they moved into their newly constructed dream house and raised their four children. Their home was a haven for many of the neighborhood children, where they opened their hearts and their home to make everyone always welcome at their table. In his retirement years, Kenny enjoyed reading his Old Farmer’s Almanac, helping his children with odd jobs around their homes, and caring for a host of family dogs who became his fur-grandbabies. Most of all, he relished the role of grandfather to his two grandchildren, whom he adored beyond measure. A loyal and devoted friend to all who had the honor of crossing their paths with him, a staunch supporter of the military and a patriotic American, as well as a pillar of the community who ensured that the area he lived in was safe and maintained for the betterment of his neighbors, made Ken Kelsch a man who made the lives he touched brighter and the world he lived in a better place. He will be forever remembered and sorely missed by each life that he touched. Kenny is survived by his wife of 46 years, Victoria Lynn, as well as his four adoring children, Victoria Wanser, Vanessa Franzese, Matthew, and Michael. He is the loving father-in-law of Peter M. Franzese, Kelly Kelsch, and James Wanser. He also had a special and loving relationship with Michael’s significant other, Crystal Butler. Kenny will be forever remembered by his loving grandchildren, Matthew Jacob “Jake” Kelsch and Victoria Rose Franzese. Family will receive friends at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 448 W. Main Street, Babylon, Friday, September 9, 2022, 10 am-12 pm. A prayer service at the funeral home will take place 12 pm-12:30 pm. Interment to follow with full military honors at Calverton National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Kenny’s wishes were for donations in his name to be made to Honor Flight Long Island, which provides a one-day trip to Washington DC to all WWII, Korean Vietnam War, and terminally-ill veterans, to visit the memorials that were erected in their honor at NO cost to them. https://honorflightlongisland.org/donations-give-plugin/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Boyd-Spencer.com for the Kelsch family.