Dr. Dan Kelly

January 1, 1939 - September 15, 2020

We will be live streaming Dr. Dan's graveside service Wednesday, September 23rd at 10 a.m. on our Facebook page. When you click this link, it will take you to our Facebook page. You might need to scroll down at 10 a.m. until you see the title Dr. Dan Kelly graveside service. KBFFH Facebook Dan was born in 1939 to Albert and Florence Kelly, Rock Port, Missouri. Dan graduated from Rock Port High School in 1956, and Tarkio College in 1960. He attended medical school at the University of Missouri from 1960-1964, and entered the U.S. Navy in 1962 as an Ensign. Following graduation he served his internship at Bethesda Naval Medical Center 1964-1965 as a Lieutenant. He then attended the School of Submarine Medicine in Groton, Connecticut. In 1966 he was assigned to the USS George Washington, SSBN 598, a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, home port Holy Loch, Scotland. He became qualified as a deep sea diver as well as a Submarine Medical Officer. Dan was proud of his Dolphins, the insignia for submarines! One year later, he became an instructor at The School of Submarine Medicine. In 1968, he attained the rank of Lt. Commander and was assigned as Interim Director of The School of Submarine Medicine. Dan resigned from the Navy in June 1969. From 1969 to 1971 he performed his residency at the KU Medical Center in the department of Pediatrics. In 1971, Dan entered private practice at Pediatrics P.A. with William H. Crouch M.D. and Robert D. Parman M.D. He remained in Topeka practicing Pediatrics at both Stormont Vail and St. Francis until he retired in May 2004. During his time in practice, Dan was involved with the creation of the neonatal intensive care unit at Stormont Vail. He was deeply devoted to providing compassionate care for his patients. He enjoyed lightening the mood in the exam room by pulling a plastic saw out of his doctor’s bag. To his last days, Dan was still recounting memories of his patients, many of whom made as much of an impact on his life as he did on theirs. In 1964 he married Dana Niles, with whom he had three children, Sarah, Brogan and Tim. In 2001 he married Beth Grecian Irwin, who survives, as do his children, Sarah (Diana) Kelly, Tim (Natalie) Kelly, and their children, Tristan, Tucker, Luther, Georgia, Stella, Brogan Daniel, Lyndsey and Gage. Also surviving are Beth’s children from a previous marriage, Kristen (Eric) Franklin and Brady (Janelle) Irwin, and their children Sadie, Cole, Katelyn and Grayson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Brogan Dan Kelly. Dan loved the outdoors, he was heavily involved with Scouting, and loved to fish. He had a lifelong passion for photography and developed a love of painting later in life. In order to share his love of painting, Dan helped found the Legacy Community Arts Center. Dan’s last days were spent surrounded by loved ones, where he passed in the comfort of his home. On Wednesday, September 23, the family will be holding a private service to celebrate Dan’s life. The service will be live streamed on Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home Facebook page. The family invites you to join the service by going to https://rb.gy/axaswy or by following this link at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers or memorial donations, the family would like for you to carry on Dan’s kindness, devotion, and compassion for others by doing something kind for someone in need. Please take a moment to celebrate the life of Dan Kelly by viewing this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlS6QpRbhA0&feature=youtu.be.