John Francis Kelley, age 62, of Saint Louis, Missouri, born April 18, 1959 in Saint Louis, Missouri, to Eugene "Dude" and Rosary, nee Brockgreiten, Kelley, died Thursday, March 17, 2022 at home with his wife by his side.

John grew up in Rock Hill and served Mass as an altar boy and sang in the choir at St. Mary Magdalen parish and school. He enjoyed a pick-up game of baseball, hockey, football or soccer and played sports all through school and into adulthood, especially soccer and tennis. He was one of five to petition Truman State University to start a soccer program and supported that for many years. He also refereed soccer, supported St. Louis FC, and became an inaugural season ticket holder for the new MLS team, St. Louis City SC. John was a 4 ^th degree Knight with Knights of Columbus. Later in life, John began mountain biking. He is probably best known for his strength, patience, kindness, fairness, insights, sense of humor, smile, and fight. John went toe-to-toe with any adversity that came his way. True to his generous nature, John gave his body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

He attended Christian Brothers College High School, Truman State University for his Bachelor of Science degree, and Webster University for his Masters of Arts degree.

He worked 37 years at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing beginning as an assistant buyer and retiring as a director in Supply Chain Management. After retirement, he went in an entirely different direction and operated a long arm quilting machine, establishing a brand and reputation as The Gentleman Quilter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene "Dude" and Rosary, nee Brockgreiten, Kelley, step mother, Mary Ann Kelley, brother Mike Kelley, brothers-in-law Max Peterson, Kirk Richter, Jim Riebold; and parents-in-law John & Evelyn Riebold.

Surviving are his wife Kristine "K2", nee Riebold, Kelley; his four children Jessica (Greg) Isaacson of Blue Springs, Mo., Katie (Andrew) Pavelka of Blue Springs, Mo., Kristen (Julianne) Ratcliff of Saint Louis, Mo., and Zack (Rachel) Kelley of San Antonio, Texas.; seven grandchildren Ava, Luke, and Nora Isaacson, Logan and Oliver Pavelka, Madelynn and Juliet Kelley. Also surviving are his sisters, Maureen Richter of Saint Louis, Mo., Mary Pat (Tom) Tierney of Saint Louis, Mo., and Kathleen Kelley of Albuquerque, N.M., and brothers Glen (Mary) Kelley of Saint Louis, Mo., and Rob (Margot) Kelley of Port Clyde, Maine; brothers-in law Tom (Barb) Riebold of Corvallis, Ore., and Joe (Cathy) Riebold of Saint Louis, Mo., and sisters-in-law Bridgid Riebold of O'Fallon, Ill., and Brenda (Bruce) Koelker of Round Rock, Texas. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces as well as great-nephews and great-nieces.

Memorial donations are suggested to St. James the Greater Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.wfh-ofallon.com .

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 9:00 – 10:00 am, Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 6401 Wade Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63139.

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Wednesday, at the church, with Fr Laurent Okitakatshi presiding, and Msgr. William J. Hitpas, Rev. James Deiters, and Rev. Chris Dunlap concelebrating.