Obituary of W.J. Eugene Kelsey

W. J. Eugene ("Gene") Kelsey was called home to God on September 19, 2013. Gene was born October 3, 1925. He was an artist, writer, advocate, patriot, loving father, devoted husband, son and sibling. Gene was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. In 1943, he left Freehold Borough High School and enlisted to serve his country in World War II at the age 17. After boot camp, Gene served in the South Pacific. He was reactivated during the Korean conflict, serving state-side. He was, in every traditional sense, a patriotic American who never stopped believing in, defending and advocating for his country and American values. His military service and commitment to his fellow Marines went far beyond words. In the late 1970s he began to tirelessly lobby legislators across the country to help wounded WWII Marine Anthony Casamento receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He stood proudly with his fellow Marines from the Corporal Philip A. Reynolds Marine Corps League Detachment as President Carter bestowed the Medal on Marine Casamento. In 1982, Gene was honored as the NJ Marine of the Year for his efforts to help Marine Casamento. In 1954 he met and married the love of his life, Dorothea Cerrato. They celebrated 59 years together in May. Born and raised in Freehold, Gene ran two businesses: "The Coffee Shoppe on the Square" and the "Coffee Shoppe on the Square West." He was once recognized as the fastest sandwich in the East. Gene served his hometown as a Councilman and Police Commissioner. He was a former President of the Freehold Downtown Business and Professional Association. In addition to being a founding and lifetime member of the Corporal Philip A. Reynolds Marine Corps League detachment, Gene was a member of the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a devout Catholic and communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold. Gene read voraciously and his frequent opinion pieces appeared as letters to the editor for nearly five decades in the Asbury Park Press. Gene was a Norman Rockwell vision of an American hero in every sense of the word but above all, he was a hero to his family. His strong and unerring moral compass and love of family permeated all his lifelong endeavors. With his passing, Gene is reunited with his mother and father, Mary and James Kelsey and seven siblings (Mary, James, Raymond, Frank, William, Elizabeth, Yvonne). He leaves behind four sisters (Lorraine Buble, Dorothy Higley, Joan Kelsey, Margaret Higley), one brother (Robert Kelsey) and many nieces and nephews and their respective loved ones. He is survived by his loving wife, confidant and lifelong friend, Dorothea Kelsey, and seven children: Patricia, John, Timothy, Denis (Lorraine MacStudy), Jeanne (Jeff Flegler), Daniel (Marlene Zabatta ), and Richard (Jill Braun). He is further survived by ten grandchildren (Daniel Sheinbaum, Christopher Gant, Zachary Kelsey, Nicole Espinosa (Christian), Dylan Kelsey, Victoria Kelsey, Ian Kelsey, Madeline Kelsey, Sean Kelsey, and Connor Kelsey) and two great-grandchildren (Arielle and Ezra Espinosa). In addition to countless family acquaintances, his memory will be especially cherished by Patricia and Timothy's dearest and longtime friends Rocco Magistrelli and Carol Kasyan. Family and friends are invited to visit on Monday, September 23, from 4 to 8 PM, at Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main Street, Freehold. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10AM at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation be made to either the Corporal Phillip A. Reynolds Detachment, 50 Waterworks Road, Freehold NJ 07728 or the Visiting Nurse Association HG - Hospice, c/o Foundation Office, 176 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701.