Christopher Mark Kelley

MADISON –Christopher M. Kelley, age 65, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, November 29, while snow blowing. As a former City of Madison (COM) snowplow driver spending years clearing the streets for the citizens, this last snow event for him seems oddly appropriate.

Born August 5, 1960, in Madison at St. Mary’s Hospital to John L. and Mary Ann (Martig) Kelley. He grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He attended Sherman Elementary; Norway Grove Elementary in DeForest and East High School.

Chris’s father was a COM Street Division employee. The future contained more COM Kelley employees: Madison Police Department, Streets Division, Traffic Engineering and Water Departments. Chris began his 39 years of City of Madison employment as a seasonal employee in 1978 with the East Street Division. Rising through the ranks of Laborer, SSMW (Street and Sewer Maintenance Worker), SMO (Street Machine Operator), Foreman, General Supervisor, Assistant Superintendent/Operations Manager to Superintendent of Streets, where he retired from December 1, 2017. During his City of Madison Street Division employment, he put together a program to institute uniforms for the Street Repair crews and a call-in plan for Snow and Ice crews that still exists today. He also met and married a then COM Street Division secretary. He participated in two Snow Plow Rodeos that were held in the state. He was a member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) City of Madison Local 236, where he participated as a union steward, was on the Bargaining Committee and Executive Board, was Vice President and then President. His father had also been President of that union. He also belonged to the AFL-CIO and APWA.

Growing up, his family delivered newspapers to businesses and paper boys, where the children learned of work. His early participation in northside baseball led to a lifetime involvement and love. He coached his three sons for 10 years at East Madison Little League (EMLL) and took teams to Plover, WI for All-Star tournaments. His love of the game then led him to become an umpire for 22 years starting with EMLL, West Madison Little League, Kennedy Little League, High School, MATC, American Legion baseball, Rock River Amateur Baseball League, Home Talent and a Little League Junior Baseball Regional at Fort Wayne, Indiana. His sister, Marianne, was also an umpire. They were fortunate to be able to umpire together. He even was able to umpire an American Legion All-Star baseball game at the old Milwaukee County Stadium after a Milwaukee Brewers game before it was torn down. He absolutely was a Green Bay Packers fan, Badgers fan and Milwaukee Bucks fan. In his retirement, he enjoyed having the time to catch all games. A new sport he entered and loved in retirement was golfing. With having worked so physically in his early years of work, his back didn’t have quite enough power in his swing; but he persevered. His last golf game this fall finally put him ahead of his son, Derek. He came home with a huge smile.

Chris is survived by his wife, LuAnn; sons, Jason (Denise), Adam (Adam) and Derek (Casey); grandchildren, Madelyn, Ethan and Nola; sister, Marcia DeMars (Steven); and many nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. and Mary Ann Kelley; brothers, John, Paul, Tim and Jeff; sisters, Marianne, Karlakay; as well as other extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at INFORMED CHOICE FUNERAL HOME, 3325 East Washington Avenue, Madison, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon with short service to follow on Friday, January 9, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and consider becoming an organ and tissue donor.

“You are gone, but not forgotten. We shall love you forever. No more worrying about the weather, or losing sleep. Godspeed! Peace be with you.”