Jack H. Kellen, 87, of
Mendota died Dec. 17,
2012, in his residence.
Services will be at 11 a.m.
Thursday in St. John's Lutheran
Church, Mendota with the Rev. Dale
Peterson officiating. Burial will be
at Restland Cemetery, Mendota with
military rites by VFW Post 4079.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday
at Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.
Mr. Kellen was born Feb. 11, 1925,
in Amboy to Nicholas and Catherine
(Faivre) Kellen. He married Carol
Johnson on Oct. 29, 1975, in Ottawa.
He was a member
of St. John's
Lutheran Church
in Mendota where
he served as an
usher and greeter.
A graduate
of Amboy
High School, he
served with the
U.S. Army in the
European Theater
of Operations during
World War II. He was a member
and past commander of VFW Post
4079, member of Elks Lodge 1212,
American Legion and Mendota Golf
Club.
He served as an alderman on
Mendota City Council for eight years,
coached Little League Baseball for 10
years and was a volunteer at Mendota
Community Hospital. He also served
seven years in Environmental Standards
And Controls for Woodhaven Lakes
Association.
He owned and operated Chalet
Restaurant in Mendota and was a
supervisor with Commonwealth
Edison for 38 years before retirement.
He is survived by his wife; six
sons, Tom Kellen of Grant Pass, Ore.,
John (Lori) Kellen of Yorkville, David
(Rachel) Kellen of Burlington, Iowa,
Tim (Kim) Kellen of Virginia Beach,
Va., Greg (Rita) Kellen of Mendota,
and Mark (Mindy) Kellen of Mendota;
four daughters, Judy (John) Bowers
of Rockford, Jeanette (Ed) Piller of
Mexico, Debbie (Mike) Povavich of
Aurora, Colo., and Jacqueline Kellen
of Gilberts; 22 grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren; one brother, Joe
(Mary) Kellen of Dixon; and one sister,
Alberta Duffy of Dixon.
He was preceded in death by five
brothers, Lester, Earl, Nick, Cecil and
Gilbert; and three sisters, Margaret
Danekas, Valerie Clark and Amelia
Heinisch.
Memorials may be directed to the
donor's choice.