Petty Officer Second Class Orlin Joe Kelling

Petty Officer Second Class Orlin Joe Kelling was born on July 25, 1917 in Mason City, IA and died October 5, 2016 in Clear Lake, IA.

Orlin Joe Kelling entered the United States Navy on June 8, 1945, in Minneapolis, MN, served during the World War II era and reached the rank of Petty Officer Second Class before being discharged on April 4, 1946 in Great Lakes, IL.

Orlin Joe Kelling is buried at St. Paul's Cemetery in Waverly, Iowa and can be located at

Armed Forces Grave Registration

Release Date: October 5, 2079.

Obituary

Orlin Joe Kelling, 99, of Clear Lake, formerly of Waverly, died Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 10, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, with Rev. Dr. Pat Hall officiating. Inurnment will be approximately 2:00 p.m. Monday in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Waverly.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorial contributions to Zion Lutheran Church Endowment Fund in Clear Lake, Boy Scouts of America-Waterloo Office, Opportunity Village in Clear Lake, or a charity of one’s choice.

Orlin was born on July 25, 1917, the son of Arthur and Ida (Droste) Kelling in Mason City. He was baptized on August 9, 1917, at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church in Mason City. He married Margaret Hutchinson on September 16, 1940 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly. She preceded him in death on May 3, 2002.

Orlin graduated from Waverly High School in 1936. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1940, he began working at John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo as an electrician. He became a supervisor in the electrical department in 1964, where he remained until retiring in 1980.

Orlin was a very active member of Zion Lutheran Church and Boy Scouts of America, as well as the community. He was associated with Boy Scouts for over 70 years. During his time volunteering with the Boy Scouts, he received Silver Beaver Award and the Lamb Award from the National Lutheran Committee on Scouting. In 1993, he was honored to receive the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award.

Orlin is survived by a special companion, Christine Johnson of Clear Lake; two sons, Darrell (Dee) of Ridgedale, MO and Larry (Dianne) of Cedar Falls; two grandsons, John (Megan) Kelling of Frostburg, MD and David (Donell) Kelling of Waverly; a granddaughter, Amy (Bradley) Knox of Cedar Falls; four great-grandsons, Alex Kelling, Brady Knox, Everett Kelling, and Colt Kelling; and a great-granddaughter, Brooklynn Knox.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Darleen in infancy.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Orlin Joe Kelling please visit our Sympathy Store.

“Obituary for Orlin Joe Kelling,” Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapels, accessed July 12, 2018. http://www.colonialchapels.com/obituaries/Orlin-Kelling/#!/Obituary.