John Kellner
June 8, 1957 ~ February 11, 2021
John Leroy Kellner, 63, of Charles City, IA passed away February 11, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN after a short battle with cancer.
A private family funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 19, 2021, at United Methodist Church in Nashua with Rev. Sarah Namukose and Rev. Okitakoyi Lundula celebrating the service. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Nashua. Please join the family on Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home's Facebook page live at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Nashua. Face coverings and social distancing are required for these services. The visitation will be live-streamed on the Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home Facebook page from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday.
Leroy was born on June 8, 1957, in Charles City, IA to John and Lorraine (Rogers) Kellner of Ionia, IA. Leroy graduated from Nashua High School in 1975. After high school, Leroy was employed by John Deere in Waterloo. Leroy then found his true calling—working with the public.
He worked at Shopko and most recently at Fareway in Charles City for the past 19+ years. He truly loved working and helping others. His customers and coworkers became his second family. Leroy was loved by everyone. His love and compassion for people were evident to all who knew him.
When not working, Leroy enjoyed going to the local celebrations and fairs, especially the Iowa State Fair. He rarely missed a year. Another favorite hobby was photography. He loved taking pictures of everything. He was also an avid animal lover. He had many cherished dogs and cats throughout the years and loved feeding the birds. He was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Nashua. He was also an active member of the Greenwood Cemetery Board.
Leroy is survived by his siblings, Diane Oltmann of Grimes, IA; Charles Kellner of Ionia, IA; Cindy (Mason Larson) Kellner of Cedar Falls, IA; his nephews and nieces, Jimmy (Kate) Oltmann of Ankeny, IA; Jamie Oltmann of Waterloo, IA; Stacia (Nate) Marra of Stewartville, MN; Krista Kellner of Nashua, IA and Austin (Dana Slavin) Kellner of Chicago, IL and great-nieces and nephew, Brinley and Bishop Oltmann and Athena Marra.
Leroy is preceded in death by his parents, John and Lorraine Kellner; brother, Craig Kellner, and brother-in-law, Jim Oltmann.
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Deepest sympathy to Leroy’s family.
Prayers & love….Leroy was a wonderful person❤️
Our hearts are breaking for the Kellner family on the loss of a such a wonderful man. Soar high & RIP Leroy. You will certainly be missed by many.
My heartfelt sympathy going out to the whole Kellner family. Leroy was the best and will be so missed by everyone 💔😪
Leroy was such a great guy, will miss him at the store, always a big hello and smile!
Sympathy to the whole family. He was a special man!😢
My sympathies and prayers to the whole family – he will be missed.
Leroy was a great person who is very missed by many of us!
Leroy was such a happy guy, he will be missed, sending prayers to the family !
My thoughts and prayers to the Kellner family!!!❤🙏
Oh know he was such a wonderful guy and a great dance. As hard as it is I take comfort that we will be dancing across the floor with his friend Kathy. They loved to dance and they both enjoyed each other friendship. Sympathy to all his family and friends.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️
My thoughts and prayers to the family. He was a great guy. Always friendly and smiling.
My Extreme Deepest Sympathy to This Special Family for their loss!! Leroy was a Great Friend and he’ll be Missed by All that knew him !!! Sending my Love to Di, Charles, Cindy and All your families!!
Leroy was a wonderful person. He will be missed by many. Prayers to his family🙏🏻
Such a wonderful person he will be missed. ❤️🙏
Leroy always liked to visit a great guy,everyone that went into Farway knew Leroy.
So so sorry to hear of Leroy passing. Great guy!
Leroy was one of a kind. He had a huge heart and didnt know a stranger. God must have needed a good friend and someone special to visit. Leroy loved his communities and made a huge difference with his generous, kind nature. He fought a good fight and beat the odds so many times before. He knew he was loved and was at peace. I will miss our fun chats. Take special care Diane, Cindy, and Charlie.
Leroy was an amazing guy. He made a huge difference in every life he touched. Leroy never knew a stranger but welcomed everyone and always accepted others as they were and never judged others. Leroy was a great example for others in his love, kindness. Forever in our hearts..🙏🏽💗🙏🏽
My sympathies to Leroy’s family. He always had a smile on his face, and was kind to everyone. He will be missed.
Leroy was a great guy with a great personality! Never meet a person he didnt like. I use to talk with him when I delivered product to the Fareway store in Charles City he was one of the few to take time to ask people how they were! Heaven has gain a great angel! Fly high my friend
With Sincere Sympathy so sorry he will be missed by many a great guy.💔😪
sympathy
My thoughts are with Leroy’s family. Leroy was a great, caring person. I always enjoyed when you saw Leroy and having a visit with him. I’m thinking he did most of the talking though – he did like to visit but it was always interesting.
Leroy was NICE with capital letters….kind, friendly, helpful, & smiling….even when he was hurting. My sympathy to his family and friends.
Such a special guy will certainly miss him at Fareway. Hugs and prayers for his family’s
I would have short conversations with Leroy at Fareway or at visitations. Around holiday times, he always looked forward to the family gathering. He would mention trying to get everyone together and missing them if they couldn’t be there. He will be missed by so many.
I will miss my visits with Leroy at Fareway. He was the best.
He was always such a kind person. I will miss our talks. He will be greatly missed.
So sad for all those who will be missing Leroy’s warm welcome, wonderful smile and never give up work ethic and attitude. When shopping at Fareway he felt like a good friend or family member. Happy for him, that his suffering is over, but such a loss! Deepest sympathy to all of Leroy’s friends and family!
My heart goes out to the family. I knew him and his mother and brother Charlie from when I worked at the dentist office. Such great people. Rest in peace Leroy will miss you at Fareway❤
How sad. What a gem. He was a great man and will be missed.
Deepest sympathy to Leroy’s family and friends. He will be missed by many.
So very sorry to the family, friends and coworkers of Leroy. He touched many lives in his short life, made alot of friends through his work at Fareway. He was a sweet, gently soul who loved to visit with the customers. I do not know him personally, but our family was very touched when he sent my mom a sympathy card when my dad died seven years ago. May your memories, prayers and the love shared with your family get you through the coming year.
So sorry to hear of the passing of LeRoy. He was always a friendly smile at Fareway . He will be missed by so many.
I went to school with Leroy. Such a kind and friendly person. He will be greatly missed. So sorry for your loss.
We want to express how sorry we when we read that Leroy passed away. Phyllis and I have a long friendly relationship with Leroy, from having him in class in NHS to seeing him whenever we shopped in Fareway. His friendly greetings and happy smile will be missed
I always enjoyed visiting with Leroy when he carried out my groceries. What a nice person! My sympathy to his family, friends, and co-workers.
So sorry to hear of Leroy’s passing. He will be missed so much. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Very sorry to hear of Leroy’s passing. He was such kind and nice human being, always willing to speak with you and was always upbeat about life, and will truly be missed. Although Leroy didn’t play sports in school, In gym class,Leroy was the Best Stick Pin Dodge Ball Goaltender in Country! RIP Leroy. Klel Harris
Thoughts & Prayers are with Leroy’s family during this difficult time. It was always a ‘treat’ to ‘run into’ Leroy occasionally on visits back to Iowa. He will be missed.
Leroy was such a special guy and a friend to all. When I was growing up, my parents sold my Shetlan pony to his parents. He was a wild pony and Leroy and I always laughed about how that pony would take us down through the ditches and wouldn’t stop until “he” wanted to. Rest easy Leroy, the world is a better place because of you.
To the Kellner family, so sorry for the loss of Leroy I graduated with Leroy in the class of 1975 and was neighbors in the Republic area. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Leroy was one of the gentile souls here on earth and will be greatly missed. Bert Feuchtwanger
We will miss Leroy’s friendly smile. When he worked at Fareway and he carried out our groceries, he was always ready to visit about family, feeding the cats, the farm, gardening….the list goes on. He will be greatly missed. Deepest sympathy to the Kellner family.
Deepest sympathy the Leroy’ family. He will be missed by so many. He was always so upbeat despite all that he was going through. Hope he knew how much he was loved
In loving memory of LeRoy……always kind. We will miss you. Gerry Busching; Lee & Glenda Busching; Marilyn Triggs; Milan & Marj. Busching
Sending our condolences to the family. We will miss his happy face at Fareway. So sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Leroy was all you said in his obituary and more. No matter how he was feeling he always was cheerful and so kind. Someone we will remember always and try to be more like in our daily lives.
We pray the love of God enfolds you during this time.
Leroy meant the world to my mom and she valued his friendship so much that words just can’t express. My mom passed years ago but I am thankful every day that I got to know Leroy through my mom and that I had the honor of having him as a friend, He was truly a great person. Sending prayers to family,friends, and others. I am sorry for your loss.
I first knew John from Fareway, Charles City, as I was living in Nashua at the time. More recently, he’s been a customer at Caseys South Federal in Mason City where I work. What a sweet man. I will miss chatting with him. My condolences to his friends and family.
He was an incredibly friendly and kind man.
Someone as special as Leroy will never be forgotten. He will remain in our hearts forever. Nick and Veronique Lundula
With Deepest Sympathy To You All.. May love and cherished memories help to heal your loss. Sheryl and Lew Lindner
Sending love and prayers to you at this difficult time. LeRoy was an incredible guy. He will be deeply missed. Love, Tom, Starla and Kiana
I worked at Fareway with Leroy for 3 years. And I always looked forward to working with Leroy. One Leroy moment that stuck with me is one slow shift on a Monday morning. There were no customers and a group of coworkers and myself were talking. I mentioned bringing my pet hamster to the vet for a bladder infection. My other coworkers were stunned I took a hamster to the vet. One went as far as to say “Why did you take a hamster to the vet? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to get a new hamster?” Leroy was the only one to understand and not judge me. He understood animals are family. And in the ensuing days even asked for the progress on my little hammy. Leroy and I share a love for animals. And many of our conversations were about our animals. I will sorely miss seeing him when I go to Fareway.
Charlie and Family- I am so sorry for the loss of your brother and know that there are no words that will ever describe how much he meant to you (and you to him.) Leroy had lots of ups and downs in the past year and was so lucky to have you by his side and always being there for him. Hang onto your memories of him and share them with those that loved him. You had a lot of good times together even on the rough days. (I’ve heard some of the stories of your conversations with Leroy and they are priceless!) The Roach boys have always had a special place in their hearts for your family and will miss Leroy as will anybody that knew him. I’m thinking of you during this difficult time.
He fought a great fight with grace and dignity
I’m So Sorry For your Loss!! Leroy Will Definitely Be Missed!! I used to work with him at Fareway in Charles City many years ago. A Very Kind Man He Is And Always Will Be!! Very hard working also! Sending Prayers and Huge Hugs your way! RIP Leroy!! You’ll Definitely Be Missed!