John Wesley Kelbly Jr.

Major John Wesley Kelbly Jr. passed away on December 7, 2018 in Bryan, Texas at the age of 86.

John was born March 20, 1932 in Marshallville, Ohio, to John W. Kelbly, Sr. and Emma Butzer Kelbly. One of three children, he joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. It was while he was stationed at Bryan AFB that he met Augusta Ann Dansby, who was from Bryan. He and Ann married in 1956 and were married 25 years and had four children. In 1973 he received the Bronze Star Medal for his heroic service. Not surprisingly, flying remained one of John’s greatest passions.

John married his current wife, Kathleen Lieck, in Austin, TX in June of 1987. In his later life he lived in North Zulch and raised cattle. He spent the last few years ranching in Kurten with his sons and grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his family. His family will fondly remember him beginning many explanations with, “The thing of it is…”

John was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister Marilyn “Red” Kelbly Wykoff. He leaves behind his wife Kathleen Kelbly, his son John W. Kelbly III and his wife Elaine Hanus Kelbly of Waco, his daughter Kay Kelbly of Arlington, Texas, his daughter Carolyn Kelbly Allen of Bryan, and his son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Kelly Kelbly of Kurten. He will also be dearly missed by his grandchildren: Ashlyn Kelbly Morgan and her husband Ben Morgan of Dallas, Erin Kelbly of Knoxville, Tennessee, Kalyn Kelbly of Arlington, Texas, West Allen of Buda, Justin Allen of Bryan, Emma Allen Bates of Bryan, Morgan Kelbly, Jacob Kelbly, and Joshua Kelbly.

To honor John’s life, his family has planned a visitation and final military honors on Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 6-8 at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. There will be a Celebration of Life planned for the spring to share memories and inter him at Kurten Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in John’s honor to a Veteran's Organization or Habitat for Humanity.