Tributes

With the permission of Michael Kelly’s family:

Michael James Kelly Obituary

Michael James Kelly was the firstborn son of James and Margaret Kelly. He was a tall and handsome man with a dimpled smile, and a twinkle in his eye. His mischievous spirit was nurtured through adventures beside the ravine on Sunnidale, where he played the role of big brother as the oldest of ten; himself, Mary, Gerald, Joan, Zan, Kathleen, Joseph, Daniel, John, and James.

Mike lived a unique and storied life: he briefly played with the Miami Dolphins, was mistaken for a sea monster while swimming in Kempenfelt Bay, skipped multiple grades to start university at age 16, crashed into Casa Loma, was proprietor of The Lanc which almost succumbed to fire a number of times, smuggled an alligator across state lines, used a tree branch to hoist the engine out of a car, and the list goes on. He could always be counted on to laugh at a joke or add his poetic vernacular to any conversation.

The only thing Mike cherished more than travel was his family. He brought together two families during a week-long trip to Ireland in 2016 to marry his beloved Joan, creating bonds and memories that will last. Mike and Joan travelled the world together, with him frequently planning their next trip during the flight home. His children were lucky enough to join him on his travel adventures, whether waking up in the van bound for Disney, narrowly avoiding arrest for charged political commentary in Tiananmen Square, walking up and down volcanoes, scuba diving along shoals of fish in the Caribbean sea, fighting giant waves on Canada’s southernmost point, or failing to blend in as locals at Taiwanese markets. Last February, Mike realized his lifelong dream to visit each continent when he stepped foot on Antarctica, and true to his passion, he stripped down to take a dip in the Southern Ocean!

Mike passed away on January 13, 2026 in Kitchener in his 80th year. Beloved husband of Joan Curran. Loving father of Erin (Derek), Kathleen (Philip), Meghan (Joseph), and Michael (Micaela) and stepfather to Troy (Andrea), Michelle, and Christine (Kevin). Proud Poppa of Emma, Khristian, William, Braden, Spencer, Violet, Henry, Nicholas, Henry, Eleanor, Addison, Finley, Harriet, Ava, and Bodhi.

Mike’s family will receive relatives and friends from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener. A funeral mass will take place at 11:30 AM on Monday, January 19 at St. Agnes RC Church, 75 Bluevale Street North, Waterloo. Burial at Parkview Cemetery. Reception to follow in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider registering as an organ donor and sharing your wishes with your family. The liver transplant that Mike received gave him seven more years of travel, quality family time, and companionship.

Visit http://www.henrywalser.com for Mike’s memorial.