Arthur Vern Kelsey

Arthur Vern Kelsey, 85, of Drummond Island, Michigan, died June 4, 2017, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born February 14, 1932 to William Arthur Kelsey and Lucille Mae (nee Van Y) Kelsey in Saginaw, Michigan. Art grew up in Saginaw and graduated from North Branch Lapeer County High School. Following high school, Art joined the United States Navy. He married Rita Gene O’Rourke on September 8, 1951 at the North Branch St. Peter and St. Paul church and they were then stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and Brunswick, Georgia. Art served part of his duty on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Midway. When Art fulfilled his enlistment and was discharged in 1955 they returned to Linden, Michigan and he went to work for General Motors at AC Spark Plugs. He worked for General Motors for 38 years and belonged to United Auto Workers local 651. In the last years he worked as an experimental painter, painting prototypes. He also worked part time as a police officer in Vienna Township while working for GM. When he left GM, he and Rita retired to Drummond Island, Michigan, where he continued to paint signs as Kelsey Signs. Art always kept busy. He liked to hunt, fish, ride motorcycles and cut firewood. He was a ham radio operator. He had a pilot’s license and owned his own plane named Little John. He raced enduro motorcycles and snowmobiled. He also liked to bowl and golf. Art was known for his sense of fun and mischief. He loved to drink Folgers Classic Roast Coffee and he directed that his urn is to be a Folgers Classic Coffee Container with some of the coffee in it also. “You can take it with you”. Art is survived by his wife Rita, four daughters; Deborah Gene (Robert) McBride, of Morris Michigan, Kathleen May (Richard) Wilson, Jane Terese Kelsey, and Pamela Kim Switzer, all of Clio, Michigan; one son, John Patrick (Lisa) Kelsey of Naples, Florida; three grandchildren, Heather (Gilbert) Lozano, Josh Smale, and Tiffany Curtis; four great grandchildren, Luke, Kelsey, Nicholas, and Hannah. Art is also survived by his brothers Craig Mundale of Georgia, and Ron Jerome Kelsey of Saginaw, Michigan. A memorial mass will be held at St Florence Catholic Church on Drummond Island on Friday June 9, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. Arts final resting place will be Drummond Island Cemetery.

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Arthur Vern Kelsey

February 14, 1932 - June 4, 2017