John F. (Jack) Kelly, 82, of Champaign, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at the Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home, 201 N. Elm St., Champaign on Sunday, Sept 4, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Jack was born Sept. 1, 1928, to John and Annette (Porche) Kelly in Chicago. He married Virginia (Creech) Smallwood on Oct. 18, 1986. She survives along with six daughters, Patti Andrzejewski, Round Lake Beach, Nancy Koda, Crystal Lake, Karen Kelly, Round Lake Beach, Eileen Kelly, Palatine, Kitty Kelly, Schiller Park, and Rita Kelly-Munch, Libertyville; two step-daughters, Cindy Smallwood (Sue Klefstad) of Monticello and Lisa (Ken) Hutchinson of Crystal Lake, as well as seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Aline Kelly Witt, son, Michael Patrick Kelly, and ex-wife, Eleanore Kelly.

Jack was in the Navy from 1946 to 1949 and served on the USS SB Roberts DD823 and the USS Spokane CL-120.  He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1953. He was a mechanical engineer and lived in the Chicago area most of his life.  When he retired in 1993, he and Virginia moved to Lake Iroquois, in Loda. They moved to Champaign in 2000.

He was a member of the Loda Lions, the Loda American Legion, and the Monticello Railway Museum where he helped restore Steam Engine 401 until poor health made it impossible.

Memorials may be made to the Loda Lions or the Monticello Railway Museum or to the charity of your choice.

Condolences to the family may be offered online at www.HeathandVaughn.com.