Andrew M. Kelly

Andrew M. Kelly went to be with the Lord and Savior on June 3, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Andy, a steadfast believer, recently told his family that Jesus was going to close his eyes and his parents were going to carry him home. A moment that will forever bring peace to those who were with him at the end. A life disrupted by the disease dementia could not take Andy’s faith or love for his family away. His faith has been a constant pillar through life’s many journeys, and what a liberation to be back in his savior's arms once again. Andy was a man whose smiles and laugh could lighten the mood of any room; we were all blessed to be able to enjoy him for so many years.

Andy was born February 7, 1936 to Genevieve Elizabeth Litzinger and Paul Edward Kelly. The seventh child, and baby of the Kelly clan, Andy’s mother Genevieve dotted on her baby boy. He quickly became the highlight of her life after his father, Paul, succumbed to the effects of being in WWI and passed when Andy was just 16 years old. All of Andy’s siblings have preceded him in death: Mary Jane Mulholland, William (Bill) Kelly, Dororthy (Dode) From, Paul (Joe) Kelly, Margaret (Peg) Flautt, and John (Neal) Kelly. His life started in Somerset, OH, where he was raised with his niece Shirley. Andy found joy for all things athletic, particularly basketball and golf.

The love of Andy’s life was Patricia A. Talbot, from New Lexington, Ohio. The couple was married on September 14, 1963, and enjoyed 60 years together on their own adventure. Once married and upon starting their family they settled in Luckey, OH to raise their children; twin girls, Cindy and Mindy, and their baby boy Philip. The house and property in Luckey became one of their many pride and joys. Being built from the ground up out of a farmer’s field, the landscape became a canvas that was constantly a labor of love.

A favorite pastime of Andy’s was relocating the ever-growing trees in his yard. He affectionately earned the nickname “digger,” and can still be pictured on his Wheelhorse riding lawn mower with his red yard wagon being dragged behind. The landscape was a true testament to Andy’s spirit and determination and grew to be beautiful and filled with trees, which had plentiful fruit ones among them.

Andy, an avid storyteller to all who knew him, would remind people of all his great, frugal accomplishments. Many heard the story about how tight Andy (as he was affectionately nicknamed by his wife and children) was able to heat his entire house with the wood he chopped, split, stacked, and then burned. The missing piece that escaped the story was the small detail that t-shirts and shorts were needed where the wood burner was running, but two sweaters would be needed in the back of the house to stay warm. Always a problem solver, he installed little computer hard drive fans in the corners of the door frames to move the heat back to the colder areas, while a great idea, sweaters were never far from arms reach.

Andy dedicated 30 years to the Toledo Blade as a typesetter, he frequently worked the odd ball shifts to be off with the kids. Generally, Dad’s days-off were Tuesday and Wednesdays and this gained him the additional responsibility of dinner duty – the result was always fried egg sandwiches or fried hamburgers (albeit a little dry) with limited side dishes. While not a chef, the tradition of these meals brings a warm feeling whenever enjoyed now.

As the kids grew older Andy decided to combine his desire to be physically active with his love of running. Frequently he could be spotted running up and down miles and miles of country roads on the weekends. But during the week he would continue his commitment to running by taking on the streets of downtown Toledo with his fellow coworkers. Andy set a goal to run a marathon, unfortunately he was not able to finish the Glass City Marathon due to a pulled Achilles Tendon. He went on to finish several other Glass City Half Marathons. Wherever Andy was running his signature short shorts could be seen. Continuing with his love of golf while living in Luckey, he participated in the Luckey Golf League. There were multiple league championships held in that golf league.

Upon retiring and selling that curated park-like homestead, Andy and Pat started their next adventure in Sun City Center, FL. While first considered the kids of the community, they quickly formed a new group of friends where they were able to indulge in their love of golfing, playing cards, and social time. Andy’s love of golf had been nurtured throughout his adult life but took full control during retirement. He was able to hit two hole-in-ones during his golfing career, a feat that many of his grandsons will always be aiming to accomplish.

As a passionate storyteller, one of the fondest memories Andy’s grandchildren will have to cherish were the stories and jokes he would tell. Oftentimes his stories would be intertwined with directions somewhere, he could describe to you what a geographical landscape looked like 20 years ago, while in the same breath making you laugh when hearing sirens and his ever-loved joke about a condo, golf-cart and used set of golf clubs coming up for sale soon based on those sirens. It can be said that if you were ever in a room with Andy, you would walk away friends. His lively spirit was one that entranced people and made them feel welcomed.

Nineteen years later Andy & Pat ventured back to Perrysburg, OH to be with an ever-growing extended family. It cannot be said that they did not miss the warm weather of their retirement, what they lost in year-round temperature, they gained in extra time spent with their kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. It is with a world of sadness we say goodbye to Andy’s physical body, but we are comforted in knowing he is at peace eternally with his loving savior and is no longer plagued by the evils of dementia.

Andy is survived by his best friend and loving bride of 60 years, Patricia Ann Kelly, and his children; twin daughters, Cindy (James) Barr, Mindy (Yvar) Yap, and son Philip (Beth) Kelly. He will forever be remembered by the legacy of his many grandchildren and continually expanding bunch of great grandchildren. Visitation will be on Friday June 14th from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., mass at 12:30 p.m. followed by fellowship all taking place at Saint John XXIII at 24250 Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg, OH 43551.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in honor of Andy to the Alzheimer’s Association (Northwest Ohio Chapter (alz.org).