William John Kelly

William “Bill” Kelly, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, leader, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026, just a few days shy of his 84th birthday, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bill was born on September 24, 1942 in New Hampton, Iowa. On December 27, 1962, he married the love of his life, Connie, beginning a marriage that would span nearly 64 years. Their steadfast love and commitment to one another were among the greatest examples they gave their family. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work, and love.

Bill spent 40 years with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa, where he built a distinguished career and earned the respect of countless colleagues. His influence extended well beyond his professional life, and many of the people who worked with him became lifelong friends.

Bill’s faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of his life. He lived his faith not only through his words, but also through the way he treated people—with integrity, humility, generosity, and compassion.

He was a devoted husband and a loving father to Laura (Tom) Gorman, Anjie (Chandler) Cayot, and Jim (Wendi) Kelly. He was a proud grandpa, to Hannah (Clayton) Puckett, Katie (Nathan) Sprouls, Caroline (Ben) Hopper, and Matt Kelly, and treasured his role as great-grandfather to Adeline Ruth.

Outside of work and family, Bill had a lifelong love of hunting, collecting guns and wildlife art, and finding interesting things others might overlook at auction. He had a curious mind, a keen eye, and an appreciation for a good deal.

Those who knew Bill best will remember him for his steady presence, his dry sense of humor, his wisdom, his generosity, and his loyalty. He was deeply loved, made a lasting difference, and will be remembered always.

Thank you to all who sent cards or wrote notes to Dad. He read each and every one of them several times. In his final days, we read the letters to him.

In keeping with Bill’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. He never wanted those he loved to travel long distances to gather on his behalf. Instead, he asked that the time you might have spent making the journey be spent with the people you love—gather around your own table, share a meal, tell a story, laugh together, and hold your family a little closer. Bill could think of no better way to honor his life than by loving your own family well.