Todd M. Kelly, 54, died August 2, 2016, due to cardiac arrest. He was a 22-year resident of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He was born March 7, 1962, in Cherokee, Iowa to Clinton and Marlene (Jensen) Kelly. He was raised in Cherokee. Prior to graduating from Washington High School he enjoyed playing football, biking, creating art, attending car races with his dad and visiting Spring Lake Park with his mom. He received his Bachelor of Science in geology from the University of Northern Iowa and Master of Science in geology from Colorado State University. He married his high school sweetheart, Michele (Courtright) in August 1987.


He worked for the federal government for 26 years, beginning with the Soil Conservation Service for two years in Indianapolis, Indiana. He worked for the US Geological Survey in Indianapolis and eventually retired from the USGS in Albuquerque, New Mexico in May 2014. Primarily a hydrologist working with water levels and water quality, he was the Project Chief for the Albuquerque Urban Storm Water Project. As Michele and his kids said, his job was "wading around in rivers." He loved being able to work outdoors and developed many long-term friendships throughout his career. Eight months into retirement his family encouraged him to find work outside the home. This led him to employment at Perfection Honda in Rio Rancho.


Todd loved traveling, biking, camping, photography, hot air ballooning, motorcycling, auto racing, and spending time with his family, including playing with his grandson. He was a Packers, a Broncos, and a Hawkeyes fan. He coached many children, including Garrett and Amanda, in both football and soccer. His interests led him to be a Safety Team Member at the pit gate at the Indianapolis 500; to work at a variety of concerts; and to participate with fellow bicycling addicts in RAGBRAI and other events. Among his favorite travel experiences were hiking, rafting and jeeping in southwest Colorado, canoeing the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota, mountain biking in Canada, and seeing wildlife in many national parks. He enjoyed a variety of music, with particular fondness for Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Boston and Rush. He has always loved animals and had several pets over his lifetime.

He is survived by his wife Michele, children Amanda Kelly and Garrett Kelly, and grandson William (Amanda's son). He is also survived by his parents Clinton and Marlene; sister Valerie (Mark) Woodrum; sister Melanie (Joe) Capesius and their children Gabrielle, Patrick and Mason Capesius. Additionally he is survived by aunts Delores (Jensen) Vannatta, Joyce (Kelly) Spence, and Carol (Kelly) (Ralph) Troeller and several cousins. Survivors also include mother-in-law Kay Miller; sister-in-law Laura Dawson and her children Andrew and Elizabeth Dawson; and sister-in-law Maria (Herb) Ford and their daughter Maya Ford.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Gus and Opel (Mummert) Jensen and Leo and Hazel (Gould) Kelly; father-in-law Clayton Courtright and uncles Darrel Vannatta and Lee Spence.


Memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 9 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at Daniels Family Funeral Services. Todd requested, in lieu of flowers, memorials be in the form of contributions to college funds for his children and grandchildren. Todd did not want a traditional formal funeral service. He requested attendees dress comfortably in shorts and t-shirts, have a nice "wake" in his honor and enjoy visiting with folks.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 15th, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cherokee, Iowa, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The family requests memorials to be made in the form of donations for his children and grandchildren's college education. Donations may be sent to Todd M. Kelly Memorial Account at U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 129, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Credit Union phone number is (505) 342-8888.