Jim Kelly

Jim Kelly, 83

Jim Kelly of Winter Haven passed away Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale.

He was born February 3, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Patrick and Margaret Kelly; he moved to Winter Haven from Virginia in 1973. Jim was a Master Sergeant for the United States Army until his retirement in 1975.

He was a Staff Sergeant and Combat Engineer in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in action. He retired from the US Army at 38 years old and then became a General Manager for several Red Lobster restaurants in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Kissimmee. He was awarded The Manager of the Year numerous times. After 12 years with Red Lobster, he decided to get back to construction where he became a crew leader with Associated Electric in Winter Haven. He finally retired when he was 59 years old. He never met a stranger and would help anyone he met. He enjoyed good conversation, politics, good whisky and playing jokes on everyone.

Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Kelly; and sister, Cathy Gentile. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rose S. Kelly; sons, James Kelly (Suzanne) of Parrish, Gary Kelly of Orlando, and Paul Kelly of Winter Haven; sisters, Mary Casoria (Leonard) of Lakeland, and Patricia Ochocki of Lake In The Hills, Illinois; and granddaughter, Rachel Kelly Waterman (Jason) of Parrish.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Rev. David Koon officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate ). It will also be available to watch on the website for 90 days after the service.