Michael Joseph Kellerman

Michael Joseph Kellerman, 79, of Kansas City, MO departed from this earth on June 10, 2014. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, at St. Patrick Oratory Catholic Church, 608 Cherry, KCMO. Visitation Monday at the McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood Blvd, KCMO from 5-7 p.m., where the rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. The family request contributions to Catholic Charities, 20 W. 9th Street, Suite 650, Kansas City, MO 64105 or www.catholiccharities-kcsj.org.

Michael was a character from beginning to end. He was born the third of seven children to Louis and Mary Ellen (Fitzgerald) Kellerman. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Rockhurst High School where he played football on the “A” team. Due to his relatively small size yet large fearlessness, he soon acquired the nickname “Big Mike.” He went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from Rockhurst College and briefly attended KU Medical School. Michael decided to switch his course of study and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from UMKC where he was also accepted into the doctoral program. The mightiest of men are those who can relate to the smallest of men – the children. Michael was most proud of his work with children. Eschewing the spoils of a potentially lucrative private practice, he devoted his talents and education to those most in need. At the S. Truman Children’s Neurological Center he was Director of one of the first Autism programs in the country. His work with these children was nothing short of miraculous and he garnered the respect of both colleagues and parents alike. He also worked extensively on the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, which addressed concerns about child development in low-income communities. He was one of the founding researchers for this groundbreaking program. His work with and for children never ended. He spent over twenty years at the Jackson County Juvenile Court as the Court Psychologist. During all of these years he was forever a teacher - teaching at Penn Valley, UMKC and Rockhurst College. Michael was nothing if not generous- some would say to a fault. He would easily give a nickel of his last dime to the first forlorn, down-on-his luck soul who wandered by. Actually he’d probably relinquish nine cents of that dime and only save himself the last penny “for bus money” because you should always have bus money. He was a book-lover, a walker and a crossword puzzler. He had a brilliant, beautiful mind and graced everyone with his humor, wit and cleverness. He was a studier of languages (Latin books were forever open next to his lounge chair) a sweet soul, a teller of tall tales and frequently behaved badly - but only because he found well-behaved people rather boring. Getting into trouble gave him stories - stories that could be made larger with each telling, in the Irish way. He is survived by his wife of over twenty years, Susan Smith of the home; his daughter Siobhan (Dave) Sprecace of Englewood, CO; his two sons Michael (Paula) Kellerman and Sean (Kari) Kellerman of the Kansas City area; his step-son Geoff (Dawn) Smith of Oak Creek, CO; eight dearly beloved grandchildren – James, Nicholas, Grace, Terry, Gabby, Giorgia, Zariah and baby Inara. He also leaves three sisters (Maggie Feierabend, Kathleen Flack and Mary Ellen Remus) and a brother (Tom Kellerman); the mother of his children, Sue Ellen Kellerman; plus numerous nieces and nephews to which he was known as “UNCLE MIKE!” His parents, two brothers and his beautiful daughter, Michelle MacLachlan, preceded him in death. We picture them reunited and flying high with God. There must’ve been quite a party when Michael got to see his girl again. And maybe a bit of bad behavior too. We hope! Michael was a husband, a father, a brother, a grandfather, a teacher, a friend and a consummate lover of lost causes. Most of all he was, quite simply, ours! Fond memories or condolences may offered at www.mcgilleymidtownchapel.com. “Risit, et amatur, et vixerunt et supererit.” (“They lived and laughed and loved and left.” ~ James Joyce)