Walter Joseph Kelly

Walter Joseph Kelly, the eighth child of Henry and Mollie, enjoyed the camaraderie and bustle of growing up in the midst of so many brothers and sisters.  Throughout his life many of his endeavors would be in partnership with these brothers.

 

He played tennis and golf and would usually be exempt from finals because of top grades.  Upon graduating from University of Detroit Law School in 1933 he joined the family law firm Kelly, Kelly and Kelly.  With the Depression taking its toll on the legal trade, Walt teamed up with his brother Jerry to form Kelly's Toys, Hobbies and Recordings.  This was to be the first of many business interests they would share together.

 

When WWII broke out, Walter, though in his thirties, didn't hesitate to volunteer.  Serving as a Captain in the US Army, he found himself on D-Day on Omaha Beach in the bloody Normandy invasion.  After the war, he stayed on in Europe as legal counsel for the army, returning in 1946.

 

In Florida, Walter joined Larry and Jerry in Kelly Bros. Real Estate, a business that was started earlier by older brother Emmett. A quieter contrast to the other two, Walter's focus was more on the numbers, leaving the salesmanship to Jerry and Larry.   Walt married Birte "Vicky" Broch Petersen from Denmark in 1957 and had two children, Arlette and Paul.  Walt and Vicky enjoyed traveling, golf and many games of gin rummy together.

 

--submitted by Walter and Vicky's daughter, Arlette, February 14, 2005

 

Vicky's nephew from Denmark (her sister's son), Torben Broch Eskildsen, contacted us and is interested in keeping in touch with the Kelly family. He lives Randers, Denmark (phone: 8633 6727) and would be interested in possibly coordinating a regional reunion! His e-mail address is: l-t.b.eskildsen@mail.tele.dk