Kelly Mead

Kelly D. Mead, age 66, of Granite Falls, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 30, at his residence.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Military honors will be provided by the Willmar American Legion Post #167.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Kelly Mead was born on November 21, 1954, in Watertown, South Dakota to Lowell and Harriet (Melby) Mead.  Kelly graduated from Raymond High School in 1973.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1975 and served for 11 years 2 months and 14 days.  Kelly was beyond proud to serve his country as a soldier in Berlin, Germany in the ECHO320 Red Leg Division along with the 82nd Airborne and Ranger Regiment.  He served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Freedom and Operation Provide Comfort. During his tenure in the military Kelly, received many commendations and awards.  After being honorably discharged from the Army, Kelly was employed as a semi driver for 19 years and currently worked for SPEI.

Kelly enjoyed hunting and  fishing but his passion was music.  He composed many of his own songs and recorded them in his home studio. Kelly loved his family and enjoyed his grandchildren immensely.  He had nick names for all his grandchildren and never called them by their given names.  He was a jokester and was loved greatly by all his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, June Mead of Granite Falls; six children, Tanya (Jeremy) Siragusa of Omaha, NE., Daniel (Amy) Mead of Marshall, Heather Hanson (Jarvis Hoaas) of Montevideo, Robin (Justin) Bendickson of Alexandria, Sam Hanson of Henning and Diana Collette of Gold Canyon, AZ.; seventeen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  Also surviving are six sisters, Carol (Donald) Danielson of Braham, Pam (Bruce) Quimby of Willmar, Lola Bratts of Clara City, Dawn (Jerry) Slagter of Roseland, Patty Mead of Roseland and Becky (Cary) Holmgren of Clara City, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Lowell “Skip” Mead, brother-in-law, Ralph Bratts and nephew in-law, Ryan Boonstra.