Michael Kelley

COBDEN, Ill. — Michael Gene Kelley was born Saturday, Jan. 6, 1951, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Illinois. He crossed over into God’s heavenly embrace at 11:47 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024, at his lifetime home in Cobden, surrounded by his wife, Kim, and his Brandy-Girl. Mike was 73 and succumbed after an exceptionally long, courageous and hard-fought battle with dementia.

Along with his wife, Mike is survived by his “kids”, special nephews, Shalin (Brandy) Gieson, and his children, Shepherd and Brooklyn, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jesse (Jessie) Gieson, and his children, Caleb and Dallas, of Columbia; sister-in-law, Cindy Balsmann (Lee Flanagan) of Cape Girardeau; niece, Mo Patterson (fiance Travis Boxdorfer) and her children, Dan, Alice and Waylon, of Perryville; nephew, Tyson (Genessa) Gieson and his children, Hope, Paige and Nathan, of Warrenton; sister, JoAnn (Tom) White of Anna; nephews, Andrew White of Cobden and Stephen White of Prescott, Arizona.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Luetta Kelley, and father, Cecil Kelley; sister, Ginger Kelley; mother-in-law, Edna Balsmann; father-in-law, Bill Balsmann; brother-in-law, Dan Balsmann; sister-in-law, Linda Gieson; brother-in-law, Bill Gieson; and great-nephew, Johnathan Floyd Boxdorfer. Mike had many close friends who crossed over throughout the years.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, Illinois.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday May 11, at the funeral home. Lifelong friend and pastor Bobby Dover will give the eulogy.

Per Mike’s request, he will be cremated, so there will be no burial. Mike also made a request for everyone to dress casually.

To view the obituary and leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.