Daniel J. Kelsey

Daniel J. Kelsey, formerly of Auburn, NY, died September 26, 2019, unexpectedly after a brief illness in Vernon, CT.

Born August 26, 1942, in Lackawanna, New York, he was the first son of Edith (Charnock, Kelsey) Tutko and Daniel J. Kelsey and graduated West Seneca High School in 1959. He started his career at Thruway Molders in 1959 before spending several years as a Maintenance Supervisor at Freezer Queen. He then made his way back into the plastics industry, where he would spend the remainder of his career in managerial and ownership roles, retiring as the Co-Owner of CCMI Industries in Geneva, New York in 2001.

In Dan’s early days, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with family. A quiet artist, he enjoyed sketching, drawing and even did some painting including window murals for stores back in the mid-fifties. He had a great love of steam trains and could easily be found sharing a story about riding trains with his grandfather in another time. Dan enjoyed auto racing, trains, old movies, historical documentaries and old radio shows. As a Buffalo Sabres fan, supportive father and coach, he could often be found on the ice at Casey Park in Auburn, New York on many nights and weekends in the early to late-1980s.

Kelsey is survived by his wife of 44 years Nancy (Walters) Kelsey, brother Paul Kelsey and wife Sharon (Bunz) Kelsey of Zanesville, Ohio, son Todd and Joy Ann (Hornby) Kelsey of Manchester, Connecticut, brother-in-law, David Walters and wife, Janice (Hunt) Walters of Richboro, Pennsylvania, nephew Jonathan and Kimberly (Heider) Kelsey of Zanesville, Ohio, Julie Canfield of Valley City, Ohio, great-nieces Katelyn Emily Kelsey of Valley City, Ohio and Zoe Eponine Kelsey of Zanesville, Ohio. “Grampy” is and will be greatly missed by his two granddaughters, Marin and Maeve Kelsey, whom made his life considerably more exciting in his later years than he ever thought possible.

Besides his mother, father and stepfather Joseph G. Tutko, he is preceded in death by two stepbrothers, two stepsisters and his nephew Daniel Kelsey (10/26/70 -1/11/97) whom he enjoyed spending time together listening to large brass bands

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 11a.m. – 1PM at Brew Funeral Home, 48 South Street, Auburn, NY 13021. Interment will be held privately at the family’s convenience. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY or Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Or, simply sit down with a loved one with a cup of Tim Hortons coffee and speak of fond memories together, times gone past, steam trains and grandfathers.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Daniel J. Kelsey, please visit our floral store.