John Joseph Kelly
Apr 27, 1937 -
Sep 19, 2023
John Joseph Kelly was born on April 27, 1937, in County Kerry, Ireland. He was a kind man of integrity and honor who valued family above all else. In search of his own piece of the American dream, a young John Joe took a leap across the Atlantic and found his start in New York City. After a brief stint as a builder in the army, where he perfected his carpentry skills, John headed north to Alaska to be part of the post-earthquake building boom. John worked and played hard in Anchorage and Valdez while forging a key role in a vibrant Irish ex-pat community. Through the connections of Alaskan Irish friends, the handsome lad soon met the love of his life, Diane Joy Gasperlin. The pair married in 1970 and set a shining example of what marriage can be: lasting love and commitment through times of joy and struggle.
Together, John and Diane raised five strong boys bearing good Irish names. Twins ran in John's family for generations, and he was proud to sire two sets with his wife. When the youngest pair were still toddlers, John finished building a beautiful home in east Anchorage. There they lived, always with a warm welcome for friends and family. As proud as John and Diane were of their boys, that pride multiplied with the birth of each grandchild. They were the doting Nana and Papa to five grandchildren and were blessed to have them all within snuggling distance. John lit up at every holiday, birthday and especially Saturday Burger Nights when he saw his family together. From his special chairs in the dining and living rooms, he doled out sweets and watched his grandchildren grow into fine young women and men. As a father, John made sure his children never went without and he kept that promise with the next generation. Together, John and Diane created a lasting legacy for their family, a true labor of love.
John was always the hardest of workers and instilled his impeccable ethic in his boys. Ever the craftsman, he built not only the warm and sturdy family home but much of the furniture within its walls. He also lent his expertise and time to the homes of his sons, from building decks to replacing windows. Even when he could no longer do the physical work he once mastered, he was a diligent project supervisor when household tasks needed his sons' or grandchildren's attention. John inspected every snowblowing or lawn mowing job with an eagle eye and any praise he gave was hard won and much deserved. John's skills went beyond carpentry, he was also an excellent cook and gardener.
To know John was to enjoy three fingers of whiskey and a story. Even after more than half a century in the states, he never lost his lilting brogue. Sparkling blue eyes, ruddy cheeks and a shock of pure white hair revealed his heritage just as much as his tongue. He enjoyed Celtic music and was light on his feet for wedding dances. While he remained an Irishman through and through, one of John's proudest moments was when he attained citizenship in his adopted home country. He became a proud American and never hesitated to share his vision of what was right for our country.
Always a lover of animals, John had an especially soft spot for dogs and kept Milkbones on hand for lucky visitors well after losing his most recent canine companion, a Pembroke corgi rescued from the pound. As his predecessors before him, Barry lived the good life with belly rubs, a cozy spot by John's feet and treats galore. John insisted on sharing his favorite dishes with dogs, even cheeseburgers and ice cream. Any time a new pup joined the family or visited for the first time, it quickly learned John was the ultimate source of adoration and snacks.
In 2020, John and Diane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their kitchen table, with a virtual gathering joined by loved ones near and far. The loving couple remained in the house that John built until Diane's death in spring 2023. Sadly, when John said goodbye to Diane his blue eyes lost their sparkle. After several trying months followed by a brief illness, John passed peacefully on Sept. 19, 2023. He has now joined his beloved wife and their son, Patrick. John was also preceded in death by his parents, Lena and John; and siblings, Mikey, Mary, Mattie and Anthony Kelly of Ireland. John is survived by his brother, Patsy and family of Ireland; son, Sean (Patrick's twin) with wife Melissa and twins Kathleen and Daisy; son, Frankie with wife Hayley and children Owen, Quinn and Chelsea; son, Kevin and wife Carol, all of Anchorage; and son, Danny and wife Faith of New Mexico.
Please join the Kelly family in raising a glass to John Joe, preferably with an Irish twist. Rather than flowers, the Kellys encourage friends to donate to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska in honor of John and all those who live with dementia.
A memorial mass, officiated by Father Dan Hebert, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at St. Patrick's Parish, 2111 Muldoon Road in Anchorage.
