Obituary of John A. Kelahan

John Anthony (Jack) Kelahan, 82, formerly of Fairmount, died peacefully at home surrounded by members of his loving family on December 4, 2011, in Lockport, NY. He was born in Granite City, IL, on June 7, 1929, to Joseph Richard and Concordia (Scheveling) Kelahan. Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife of 30 years and the mother of all his eleven children, C. Joanne (Greider); also by his second son, Andrew M.; a grandson, Timothy P.; and by his siblings, Rita V. (Maury) Hill, Robert C. (Katie) Kelahan, Dorothy J. (Ted) Dziemianowicz, and James E. Kelahan; and by his second wife, Betty J. (Wilcox-O'Brien). Jack graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1951 with a BA in Economics and was commissioned an ensign in the US Navy upon completion of his NROTC program. He served for three years in the Navy as an engineer on the USS Keppler, resigning his commission as a Lieutenant (jg) in 1954 and continued to serve in the reserves until 1956. He also earned a BS (cum laude) in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1956. He began a long career in the steel industry with Allegheny Ludlum Stainless Steel (Pittsburgh, PA) in 1956, continuing with Braeburn Alloy Steel (Braeburn, PA), and eventually moving to Crucible Steel in Syracuse, NY, where he worked for 30 years, progressing from senior process engineer, through positions as superintendent of the conditioning, bar finishing, annealing and finishing departments, manager of the engineering and maintenance departments, chief engineer, and finishing his career as VP of manufacturing and operations for the Crucible Steel Division of Colt Industries in Syracuse, NY. From 1973 to 1975, he was employed as the General Manager of Norton Plastics in Lockport, NY, a division of Auburn Plastics. In his retirement, Jack was an avid golfer, an active volunteer with Fairmount Meals on Wheels, a friendly visitor at St. Camillus Rehab facility and nursing home, and an active member of the Crucible Retirees organization, serving as its President for a period of time. He enjoyed spending time visiting friends and retired members of his Crucible community but his greatest love and joy was his large family, for which he affectionately coined the term "The Thundering Herd." In 2006, he moved to Lockport, NY, where he could be supported by his daughter through his struggles with Alzheimer's disease. Survivors: Jack is survived by his remaining children, John A. (Ros) Kelahan, Jr. of Newark, DE; Laura J. Kelahan of Lockport, NY; Patrick D. (Chris) Kelahan of Wilson, NY; Mary Lee (John) Redmond of Teaneck, NJ; Matthew J. (Reneé ) Kelahan of Leesburg, VA; Brian P. Kelahan (Colleen Connor) of Fairfield, CT; Daniel E. (Cheryl) Kelahan of Syracuse, NY; Philip R. (Molly) Kelahan of Hooksett, NH; Gregory K. (Linda) Kelahan of New Woodstock, NY; Julia C. Kelahan (Timothy Kilroy) of Arlington, MA; Sara Kelahan (daughter-in-law) of Augusta, GA; also by his 22 grandchildren, one great grandchild; and remaining siblings and their spouses, J. Richard (Fran) Kelahan of Phoenix, AZ; Jeanne M. (Bud) Wathen of Riverside, CA; Marguerite A. (Art) Staten of Medinah, IL; Mary Grace Emde of Atlanta, GA; Thomas A. (Kathleen) Kelahan of Coopersburg, PA; Jean Kelahan (Sister-in-Law) of Glen Carbon, IL; one aunt, five cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Dr. Syracuse, NY 13219. Burial will follow at Assumption Cemetery, Syracuse NY. Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Tindall Funeral Home, 1921 W Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13204. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094 or the Alzheimer's Association of WNY, 2805 Wehrle Drive, Buffalo, NY 14221.