CHARLES KEELY

Charles C. Keely passed away on August 31, 2021, after an unexpected complication from a routine surgery. Chuck was a long-term heart failure patient, but it was only in the last three years that his condition worsened to the extent that he was working, in his words, to earn the privilege of a heart transplant. Chuck lost more than 100 pounds to prepare for the transplant, but an infection impacted multiple organs, leading to his passing.  

Chuck was born in Milwaukee to Richard and Marjorie Keely. He graduated high school in Fond du Lac and earned a B.S. from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) with a major in Bacteriology and a minor in Chemistry. Chuck was proud of his alma mater, calling Madison the ‘center of the universe' and sporting a CALS hat daily. Chuck enjoyed his time in college, living with his brother Tom in a co-op and hitting the Brat and Brau (currently the Sconnie Bar) often. 

After college, Chuck worked at American Hospital Supply for three years and then joined Kimberly-Clark, where he stayed for the balance of his career. Chuck worked in several areas at K-C, including microbiology, product safety and regulatory affairs. He worked with government agencies, such as the FDA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission as well as with industry groups. Chuck was valued by his internal customers for his well-researched counsel and no-nonsense advice.  Chuck reveled in being a scientist. He had a deep well of knowledge and was the go-to person for friends and family on anything scientific or medical.   

Chuck had many interests. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol throughout his teen years, which sparked a lifelong love of aviation. Chuck also loved trains, especially steam locomotives, and took thousands of photographs of trains. He even proposed to his wife, Laura, on a steam train.  

Chuck was also a Ham radio enthusiast (call sign, KC9QBY). He was active in the Ham community and enjoyed the various meetings and forums. Because Chuck had underlying health conditions and had to quarantine because of COVID, the Ham community was a wonderful lifeline during this time. 

With all his interests, Chuck's number one love was his wife, Laura. Chuck often said that meeting and marrying Laura was the best thing that ever happened to him.  They married in 1995 at the former St. Mary's in Kaukauna and had their vows renewed in 2005 by Elvis in Las Vegas to mark their 10^th anniversary. They loved music and attended as many concerts as possible. They also enjoyed hanging with friends and family as well as travel. But most of all, they loved just being together.  

Chuck had several favorite sayings. When he had to deny a request, he said it was ‘Unattainium', or element 113 on the periodic table (fellow scientists thought this was funny). He called people ‘units', as in ‘he's a good unit'. Everyone who knew Chuck understood the phrase, ‘download files.' And to Laura, he often said, ‘muchas smooches, Babio'.  An avid Packer and Badger fan, Chuck loved to say he and Laura were in a ‘mixed marriage' because she is a Michigan State Spartan.

Chuck is survived by his beloved wife of 26 years, Laura; brother Thomas (Jean) Keely of Gordon, WI; sister Christina Wildlake of Santa Rosa, CA; nieces Anna Keely (Partner, Christopher Connelly), Jennifer Vermaat (Tanner); great nieces Ellory and Mallory Vermaat. Chuck is also survived by his in-laws, whom he loved as blood relatives, brother-in-law, J. Michael Jay (Nancy Thompson) of Saratoga Springs, UT; sisters-in-law Linda Jay (Russell Gale) of East Brunswick, NJ and Hazel Georgetti (Kevin) of Livermore, CA; nephew and niece-in-laws, James Peter Jay (Partner, Tara Turner) of Ventura, CA, Jeanelle Jay Young (Matthew) of Lehi, UT, E. Richard Jay (Mayo) of Lehi, UT,  John Jay (Partner, Daniella Diaz) of Washington, DC, Rebecca Gale Noah (Jonathan) of Jersey City, NJ, Rachel Stein (Brandon) of River Vale, NJ, Silvio Lopez (Elizabeth) of Santa Fe, NM, Diane Georgetti (Adin Stein) of Redwood City, CA, Lisa Gomez (Fabian) of Livermore, CA, Douglas Georgetti (Partner, Yesenia Mendoza) of Campbell, CA; and great nieces and nephews, Ella and Hunter Young, Mario, Dan and Ann Jay, Tristan and Paige Stein, and Damian and Gemma Gomez. 

We would like to thank the kind and caring staff of ThedaCare at Home Hospice (Cherry Meadows), including Chaplain Stuart McCoy. They supported Chuck's last days with kindness and with dignity.  

Although Chuck did not receive the heart transplant he so wanted, he fully believed in heart research. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association. 

A memorial Mass for Chuck will be 11:00 AM on Saturday September 25, 2021, at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1617 W. Pine St; Appleton. Visitation will be held at the church Saturday morning beginning at 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM Mass. Masks are required and will be supplied. 

Chuck's Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday following the church service at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, 4815 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton.  Chuck loved life and we will come together to share stories about Chuck. The celebration will be in the lower level of the main building, which has a ground level entrance and will be held outside.