Colin Kelley Obituary

So sorry to fine my old friend here. Huey Co sure housed a lot of kindred spirits. Very sorry to learn we will never lift another glass together. Godspeed, Colin.

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Colin's passing. Colin had a heart of gold. So many memories, so many good times, so many crazy times, so much Rock and Roll. We rocked hard, we played hard and we worked hard. So sad to see my old friend pass at such an early age. Nice to read all the thoughtful posts here from people I know - and some I don't. I first met Colin in high school in the early '70s, later we formed the Fanatics, which lasted about 2 1/2 years, from 79 to 81, then we worked at Huey's through the '80s, we lived a block away from each other on Chicago's Northside - East Lakeview neighborhood through the '80s and '90s, we worked together again at Digital Printing Company in 2002, and we kept in touch right up till the end. My heart goes out to all of Colin's family.

Farewell my good friend.
I'll see you in Rock and Roll Heaven.
Lee Krueger
Denver, Colorado

Happy Birthday, and R.I.P.

(See you in Heaven).

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help at this time.

I am so grateful that Colin had the chance to met his great nephew and newest addition to our family. I will hold that memory close to my heart always. I love you Uncle Buck.

Hey DJ......
Tonight I’m seeing stars…
Once again, I find myself with my friends,
Dancing the night away, it's like the party never ends.
Then again we don't want it to stop…

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow…

…I run the stairs away
and walk into the nighttime
the sadness flows like water…

Sometimes
The sound of goodbye
Is louder
Than any drumbeat

We will miss you Colin

Chris

I would like to share a memorie that Larry and myself had of Colin when we were in our teens, Colin drove an old white panel truck that had a orange strobe light on top,and he would turn that light on when he drove by our house me and Larry would just smile and say their go's Colin.I don't think there's anyone that i can think of that had a love for music more than he did.Yes i will miss colin as i miss my own brother.As for shirley and George God bless you .Love you Gary

so sorry to hear about colin.our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.i am leon kelleys youngest daughter kim

So sorry to hear of Colin passing. God Bless him. We met in the late 70's and had a blast! He formed the Fanatics with my brother Lee and I remember going to gigs with my friends and dancing like fools. Did not get to see much of him once I moved to New York City, only a few times on my visits back to Chicago. I introduced him to my friends the Ramones one night and we all had a lot of fun! I was hoping since I recently moved back that Lee would make it out from Colorado and we could all get together, hang out and talk of old times. So sorry it did not happen. He was a very special person and will ALWAYS be remembered.

MR.KELLEY....THE WILSONS WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS FOR YOU. YOU WERE ALWAYS SPECIAL, AND YOU WILL BE MISSED. LOVE, PAM, PADDY, DON AND GRACE

Psalm 33:3
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
Sing to Him a new song: Play skillfully (on the strings) with a loud and joyfull sound.

Colin,
We never got to know each other very well because of our age difference however I remember you as such a wonderful sweet person and that memory has always stayed with me. We need more kindness in this world and you brought that to many people. I hope you find compfort in knowing my mom (Ruby) and brother (Steve) is burried steps away from your mom and dad. When we go to the cemetery we also bring flowers from our garden for your mom and dad also.
Your work here on earth is done but your spirit will always remain in all our hearts.
May God Bless our family and friends and keep them all safe.

Love and God Bless
Jim & Terry Kelley-Farley

Good ol' Colin! I consider myself most fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside him for the past two years. I couldn't possibly recount the number of gut wrenching laughs we shared as there were so many of them within that short period of time. And we bonded with the music as well. Two of my favorite qualities within a human being.

I remember walking in one day after having listened to the Fanatics CD he gave me and saying "Fanatics Rock"!!! He had this aw shucks/come on you're just kidding me look on his face and I said "No man. I'm serious. There's some really good stuff on there!" He was quite bashfully proud in that moment. I had intended to learn a few of my favorites and surprise him with them in the middle of a future jam session. It saddens me to know that is an opportunity that shall never come to pass.

Although my stay at the service was shorter than I would have liked, I met some great people and absolutely loved seeing such a vast array of images on display. To whomever brought photos, please feel free to contact me as I would someday like to copy some of my favorites.

Denise: you are in my thoughts and prayers during this time. May you find peace.

Colin: Thanks for being such a great human being and a great friend for the much too short of time I had been given to know you. Stay "Jimba" forever and tell Jaco I said hello.

I pray that God's Holy Spirit will comfort all at this time of sorrow and am reminded of the joy Colin brought into to the life of those he knew. I regret that many of us have lost contact with one another and am compelled to try & correct that. I miss the many visits we had as kids because they are included in my fondest memories along with the best summer of my life when I lived with the Kelly's in'69. I miss all of them and my heart and prayers goes out for them, even those I've yet to have the pleasure of meeting.

God Bless Colin. I met him on Valentine's day. We were both in our 20's, and fearless. He was in The Fanatics, and his love for music never faltered. He was so much fun to be around, there was always SOMETHING happening.

I remember playing Bingo on Sunday in the South Side bars, sometimes meeting up with his dad. I remember watching the Horse Races in Crete (some times meeting up with Aunt Ruth - and he would try for her to give us a tip), and once winning a Trifecta with 1-2-3!

He had a big heart, and his heart ached for his mother. When he worked at Huey, if he would meet a homeless man, he would give them his work number, and tell them to call him and he would help them get a job.

He loved his family, and his boys. I share in their loss. The world is a smaller place without him.

The song that always makes me think of Colin is 'When I Dream' from The Teardrop Explodes. He will always have a part of my soul.

My sincere condolences to the family.

It saddens me to see someone who had a genuine desire to help others leave this world too soon.

Shirley,
Im sorry to here about Colin.I will never forget the times I had with him.My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love,

Mrs Kelley & Family
I am terribly sorry for your loss, I will keep you all in my prayers now and always.

Co-Worker

I'm very sorry for your loss. I knew Colin for a few years, and he was a wonderful person and I enjoyed our conversations. I will miss him....My comforting thought is that he is in a better place and I'm sure we will all see him again.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I DONT KNOW HOW TO PUT IN TO WORDS WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT COLIN.I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT IN THE KELLEY FAMILY ,KNOW MATTER WHERE YOU ARE .WE ARE WITH YOU ,IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ,BUT MOST OF ALL IN OUR HEARTS .SOMETIMES I WISH I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AGAIN .BECUS THE BEST MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD WAS BEING UP ON THAT HILL AT GRANDMA&GRANDPAS KELLEYS HOUSE ,AND PLAYING WITH ALL MY COUSINS AND SEEING THE KELLEY CLAN.I KNOW THE YOUNGER KIDS DONT REMEMBER THAT ,BUT US OLDER ONES DO .SO HERES TO YOU CUS YOU REST IN PEASE BECUS THE DAY YOU PASSED AWAY.A LITTLE PART OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF US IS WITH U.WE LOVE YA CUS.FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT REMEMBER ME I AM THE YOUNGEST OF AJ"S KIDS HE WAS THE OLDEST OF GRANDMA &GRANDPA KELLEYS KIDS.HERE IS MY EMAIL I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU .AND TO COLINS FAMILY AND TO BROTHERS AND SISTER I AM SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR loss [email protected]

Shirley,
we are all so very sorry for your loss as we all remember him he was a great guy and full of life. god bless you and we love you.
love aunt mary kelley
susan cooper (mary daughter)

a cousin that will be truely missed, we had some fun times growing up (our secret) wish i could have been there..... love ya all....colin, shirley, george

to one of the sweetest cousins i had, you will be missed by so many of us! we love you! sharon ( kelley) hobbs & family

Shirley,

I saddened to hear of Colin's passing. We've not seen each other since Uncle Jr. passed away. Please know that my thougts and prayers are with you during this emotional time. I remember Colin as being full of life and always made us laugh. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Love your cousin, Deanna (Ruth's daughter)
-Atlanta, GA

To my beloved nephew,you will be missed dearly.I'm sorry we didn't spend much time together over the years,but you will always be in my heart.Love Aunt Ruth Kelley-Horn

all the holiday greetings he sent me constantly will be missed, i love & miss you cousin! you were such a sweetheart! love sharon & family

Colin will forever be missed. He was loved dearly........I wish we could have gotten together one more time. Love Always, Todd and Donna (Kelley) Gain and Family.

Colin you were truly a "nice guy", I was fortunate enough to learn many things from you, but must of all, I was lucky enough to meet you.

Dear Denise,
I worked with Colin several years ago at DPC. He was a great person and I am very sorry for your loss.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Dear Denise,
I am so sorry to hear about Colin. My deepest sympathy goes out to you and the families. Go Bless you.

Truly, Joe D.

Dear Denise:
Colin was a good man, and I had many conversations with him about diabetes. I am diabetic also, and could relate. He will be missed by every employee at DIR.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.Colin will truly be missed.