Michael Kelley

Michael “Mike” Kelley, 84, of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away surrounded by his family Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at CHI St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska. Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Living Faith Fellowship Church in Kearney. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery with military honors provided by the Kearney American Legion Post #52 and VFW Post #719 in conjunction with the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney.

Memorials are suggested to Gideon’s International. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

Mike was born June 18, 1941, to Cletus and Zelphia (Billingsley) Kelley in Creston. He was raised in Creston, where he attended Creston High School, graduating in 1959. Mike served in the U.S. Navy as a YN3 on the U.S.S. Shenandoah from 1960 to 1964. In 1963, he married Helen A. Cox and to this union, his first son, Kurt was born.

After completing his term of enlistment, he was honorably discharged before earning his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Mike then earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the Creighton University School of Law while working nights on the CB&Q railroad to provide for his family and pay for his education.

After a divorce, Mike was united in marriage to Georgia “Jo” Lunn Aistrope and her three children, Bill, Kris and Ev, Oct. 11, 1974. Their union was blessed with two more children, Suzanne and Michael. He was a loving and devoted husband to Jo until her death in 2003.

Mike served as the first full time city of Kearney attorney from 1976-2004. Mike’s accomplishments include the state’s first state-of-the-art landfill and recycling center, the establishment of the Meadowlark Municipal Golf Course and the The Great Platte River Archway Monument. He also worked diligently in preserving local water rights of the Platte River for Kearney citizens, taking the case all the way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, where he won.

Mike was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He loved college football, specifically the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa State Cyclones.

He found his mission and calling from the Lord to witness to all that would receive him. He poured his heart and energy as a devoted member of Gideon’s International with his Gideon brothers. He believed deeply in the power of God’s word to transform lives, including his own.

Left to cherish the memories of their dad are his children: Kurt (Tami) Kelley of Omaha, Nebraska, Kristina (Larry) Homan of Glenwood, Everett (Kris) Aistrope of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Suzanne Kelley O’Rourke of Mesa, Arizona, and Michael (Lindsey) Kelley of Kearney; grandchildren: Zachary, Isaac, William, Lulie, Railan, Joshua, Erin, Sarah, Sydney, Alex, Finnegan, Samuel and Charlie; eight great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; wife Georgia; brother Paul Kelley; sister Jo Ann Shannahan and son William Whatt Aistrope IV.