Tom Kelly took off on his final flight on January 29th, 2026 from SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin after a brief illness.
Tom was born on December 17th, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, the first of five brothers, to George F. Kelly and Veronica Carlin Kelly. He completed grade school, high school, and some college courses in Oak Park and Chicago, Illinois. He completed his military service with the Illinois National Guard as a photographer.
From an early age, Tom always wanted to travel and be moving, from getting his driver's license on the day of his 16th birthday to his private pilot's license at age 18. Tom went on to make flying, and small airplanes in particular, his career. By age 20, he had already started his first company, renting aircraft to other small plane pilots, some of whom he kept in touch with for the rest of his life. He expanded his business, based at Chicago Midway Airport, to include a flying school, aircraft maintenance, and eventually to sales, which Tom pursued into his retirement. His sales extended internationally, and he devised a new method for disassembly of small planes for transport to Australian customers.
Tom married Sherrill Knipfer in 1974, and they moved to Downers Grove, Illinois, to a home bordering a landing strip in an aviation centered subdivision. Sherrill's roots and Tom's spirit of adventure saw them move to the Monroe, Wisconsin area in 1982, where they bought a farm. After living on two farms, the second with its own landing strip, Tom and Sherrill headed to the city, where Tom continued his business and was appointed to the Monroe Municipal Airport Board of Management. He continued flying into his 80s. Expanding his horizons, Tom joined in many activities of the Monroe Behring Senior Center, and eventually became a member of its board of directors.
After Sherrill passed away in early 2020, Tom moved to a new residence in Monroe, to a house that he and Sherrill had designed. Tom found another chance at happiness when he met Patricia (Tricia) Ihm later that year. Tricia became Tom's partner and lived life with him through good times (mostly) and bad (some), until Tom's passing away in January 2026.
Tom is survived by his partner, Tricia, and three brothers: Jerry (Mavourneen), Mike (Kathy), and Pat (Laureen), as well as six nieces and nephews and four grandnieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and Sherrill, Tom was preceded in death by one brother (Jim) and one niece (Colleen).
A memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Christ the King Parish at St. Victor Catholic Church, Monroe, with Father Larry Bakke officiating. Visitation will precede the mass beginning at 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Tom’s name for St. Victor School. The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
