William "Bill" Kelsey

William “Bill” Francis Kelsey was born on February 13, 1922 in the Town of Namakagon, WI the son of Francis and Susie (Johnson) Kelsey. In Bill’s early years he moved quite often as his father’s work took the family to various areas until 1931 when they returned to Cable. Bill, along with 12 other classmates, graduated from Cable Union Free High School in 1940. He joined the CCC Camp in Delta where he stayed for six months before moving to Michigan to work at his Aunt and Uncle's bakery. On December 7, 1942, Bill joined the U.S. Army and served with the 94th Infantry Division, 301st Field Artillery Battalion during WWII. He was honored with the Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Battle Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, one Service Stripe, and the Good Conduct Medal. Bill was honorably discharged on December 28, 1945 and returned to Cable, WI where he worked with his father at their dairy business. On June 8, 1946, Bill was joined in marriage to Lucille Melland in Drummond, WI. Together they moved to Minneapolis, MN where Bill took classes to become a telegraph operator. With his father, brother in law and others, Bill went to Iceland for six months where he was on a crew building bridges and roads. Upon his return from Iceland, Bill and Lucille moved to Badger, WI where they both went to work for Badger Ordinance. After seven years in Badger they returned to Cable, WI. Bill went to work as a carpenter and truly enjoyed his work. Even after his retirement in 1984 he continued to work on smaller projects into his 80's. Bill enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and hunting partridge in his younger years. His grandchildren meant the world to him. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Cable.

Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lucille; two daughters, Sharon (Andrew) Kiselicka of West Bend, WI, Karen (Ron) Gran of Cable, WI; six grandchildren, Pamela Sue (Claude) Benzing, Christian John (Julie) Thistle, Bradley Dean Thistle, Margaret Ann (Brenton) Roskopf, Rachael Ann Gran, and Evan William Gran; eleven great grandchildren, Alex (Katee), Cassandra, Nicholas, Emily, Kaitlin and Anna Benzing, Mackenzie and Brooke Thistle, Samantha, Courtney and Kody Thistle and one sister, Grace Hagan of Decatur, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Lloyd Kelsey.