Dear Reader,

Remember the Little Engine who Could – that childhood story about the train who had to get over the mountain no matter what the obstacle? That little engine said, “I think I can. I think I can.” Well, if I had to give a description of Kelly Killinger, I would use that story. No matter what the obstacle, Kelly found a way to serve his country, to serve others and to live a fulfilling life. Seasickness didn’t stop him; pain couldn’t stop him and the death of loved ones made him find something deep inside himself to go forward. Kelly adores people – he welcomes everyone into his life and heart. His strength of character shows in his love for our country and his concern for others. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Make a cup of tea, sit back and let me tell you Kelly’s story.

 

Francis Killinger, Jr., known as Kelly, started his service to the United States in 1954, when, as a 17-year-old, he joined the Naval Reserve. As a member of the Reserves, he served four years during weekends and summers.  As a young man on temporary active duty, Kelly went to the Caribbean to guard the Panama Canal, went through a typhoon off the coast of Venezuela and was aboard a ship in the North Atlantic off the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

One of the many life-altering events in Kelly’s life occurred a year after he enlisted in the Reserves. In 1955, Kelly was driving a Studebaker down a country road in Pennsylvania. He passed a man walking along the road. “It’s October, it’s cold, and so I stopped to pick him up,” Kelly said. The man climbed into the car and with his right hand threw his suitcase in the back seat and “with his left hand, handed me a piece of paper that told about the Four Spiritual Laws [a pamphlet that some people give to others to tell about God]. Kelly thought, “Oh no, I picked up one of those”. 

As Kelly tells me this story, he cries fresh tears remembering that momentous day. He and the man talked, and Kelly said the man asked a question that “could not be ignored”. The man asked Kelly, “If you were to die today, where would you be?” The man explained details from the Bible.  Kelly said, after much thoughtful conversation with the gentleman, he wrestled with that question, and then knew what he wanted to do. Kelly pulled off to the side of the road so “we could pray and I asked Jesus to come into my heart,” he said. Later that day Kelly dropped off the man and continued his travels. Moving on down the road, Kelly said, “Suddenly, an old Buick was headed straight for me. I swerved in time to avoid him hitting me straight on, but that question came back to me – If I died today, where would I be?” That was the year that Kelly felt “God telling me to become a pastor”, he said. Reader, was there a pressing mission or ambition that you knew you had to do in your life?

 

 

Kelly finished his commitment to the Naval Reserve on August 19, 1958, and the next day he joined the Marine Corps. After his time on the waters, I thought joining the Navy would have been the obvious choice and I asked Kelly why he joined the Marine Corp.  “I found out I get seasick,” he laughed. As a United States Marine, Kelly served on the bases of Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, El Toro in Santa Ana, California and El TA air base in California, where huge dirigibles (blimps – or big balloon ships similar to the Hindenburg) were kept.

By the time his Marine Corps commitment was completed, Kelly was married, and in 1962, he became the assistant football coach and the head basketball coach for Vanguard University in California. Then a grave tragedy struck. Kelly’s three-year-old son was hit by a car and died. In their grief, the Killinger marriage ended in divorce. With pain in his heart, for years, Kelly felt like he was just putting in time. He finished his coaching commitment that year to the university and then just drifted through many odd jobs.  Have you experienced a low point in life? How did you get through that difficult time?

Finally, in 1967, through his faith, Kelly said, he found strength to move forward. That year he joined the Westminster Police Department in California as an animal control officer where he served for more than ten years. During that decade he started a street ministry called Maranatha Fellowship. He was joined by his second wife and fellow public servants such as teachers, police officers and fire fighters.  “We served people living on the street and Vietnam veterans,” Kelly said. He remembers one such Vietnam vet in a wheelchair, living on the streets and no one helped him – “I was so angry that people were treated like that”. Kelly was able to find housing and health care for the veteran. “I have a habit of adopting people,” Kelly said of the many individuals he befriended. This was in the 70s – but racial issues of the day didn’t deter Kelly. People of many different ethnicities and many veterans with disabilities – mostly folks who were homeless were invited to stay in his home.  Kelly, along with others in Maranatha Fellowship, provided food, housing, cars and other needs to help the homeless in Westminster start a new life. Kelly also never gave up on his dream to become a minister. Throughout that decade, Kelly worked toward his degree, and on February 12, 1977 he became an ordained nondenominational pastor.

Three days after his ordination, another tragedy struck Kelly.  Still employed as an animal control officer, Kelly was chasing a loose dog to try and stop it from going out on a busy highway.  The chase took him past a large brick wall and as he ran past it, the wall caved in, and Kelly was caught and seriously hurt in the rubble.  As a young man in his 40’s, Kelly ended up in the hospital for the next 11 months. He had a lot of muscle and nerve damage “I was in incredible pain. I never had such pain in my whole life.” When Kelly was released from his hospital stay, he came out needing to use two canes to walk and pain so severe he had spasms that caused him to pass out. Kelly had to retire from the police force but served as pastor of Maranatha Fellowship for another 15 years.

One of his buddies in Maranatha Fellowship was a doctor. He was of Chinese ethnicity and had studied acupuncture and offered to preform treatments free of charge on Kelly’s pain-ridden body. Kelly said the doctor would start each session with prayer. They met for six months, took three months off and then met for another three months. After that friend’s care, Kelly was able to set aside his canes and no longer experienced the severe pain.  “I’m walking today because of that brother and God’s healing,” Kelly said. Is there someone in your life for whom you are thankful?

In 1984, President Reagan started a Peace Through Strength initiative using military veterans as analysts and advisors on hidden military operations. Kelly was asked to be a part of that team and served for 24 years. President Reagan personally awarded Kelly two stars – one gold – one silver – representing his service to our country in the Peace Through Strength program and that he served as a command officer. He wears those stars proudly on his hat today.

 

By 1995, Kelly was living in Walker Lake, Nevada where he served as an associate pastor, a volunteer fireman and a high school teacher specializing in kids from gangs. He served there for six years and then “tried to retire” he said looking forward to fishing and travel. Retirement meant he still “did a small amount of church work.”  What does retirement look like for you?

 

 

Two years later, again, Kelly’s health took a drastic turn.  He was 60-years-old and had his first heart attack. Between that year and 2010 Kelly said, “I had seven heart attacks and 11 stents replaced”. It was during those tumultuous health years that Kelly moved to Longmont to be closer to family. In 2006, he became the associate pastor of the Longs Peak Baptist church here in Longmont.  Now married to Dori, since 2010 after his previous wife passed away, Kelly again attempted retirement in 2013. However, Kelly still taught bible studies twice a week, preached twice a month, and was a Host at Longmont United Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit where he showed kindness and helps visitors and guides them about hospital regulations. Kelly’s current to-do list includes a book he is currently writing. I also saw him singing in the choir at Grace Church on Lake Park Drive one Sunday. When I laughed, and asked him “Kelly, what does retirement looks like for you?” He said, “It might be heaven.” Like the Little Engine that could, Kelly keeps pushing himself over those mountains. Where do you find your strength? What motivates you?

Reader, before you go – Remember Mori from last month’s blog? So many of you called or emailed that you enjoyed the joy of the Swingin’ Seniors band. Susana, from Longmont said, “The youth and aliveness of their spirits are inspiring.” Jane, from Pennsylvania said, “What a cool group of talented people! Mori is an incentive to all!”

The band’s story triggered memories: Reader Sharron said her mom played piano in a similar band in North Platte, Nebraska. “They were called the Music Makers and wore western attire. They had all kinds of instruments like Mori”.

My Aunt Vernie from Pennsylvania told a fun story about a “Rattle Band.” Years ago, when she was a young woman, after a couple married, friends and relatives would show up at the newlyweds’ home. They donned loud instruments and played and banged noise until the couple came to the front porch. The family brought food and they all shared an impromptu meal together before the newly-married couple retired into their home for the night. My aunt remembers that it was great fun.

Before we leave the story of the Swingin’ Seniors, I have a correction about Mori – I had called Mori a “Texas gal” because, when I was asking her questions, I heard that her mom had lived in Texas. Where did I go wrong in my writing? Well, Mori’s mom and dad had retired to Texas, but Mori is a native Coloradoan. Thank you, Mori, for that correction. Our roots are important and I want to get it right!

Readers, in our very first blog, you were introduced to professional artist and instructor, Donna Clement. You will be able to see more of Donna’s art work in the upcoming East Boulder County Artist Studio Tour. Her pieces are predominantly in oils – both abstract and realistic. She also does mixed media working with acrylic pours and oils together or watercolor and ink. She will have available pieces of her lamp-work glass jewelry and alcohol ink coasters. Below, you will find more information about how to visit Donna’s studio and get a map for the Studio Tour.

  

 

Happy Anniversary Readers! It’s our one-year celebration of the Drop in With Debbie blog. Please, will you indulge me for one Nana-moment? I was explaining to my 5-year-old granddaughter, Serafina, that I was so happy because I wrote one year of stories. She was trying to understand because she wanted to draw a picture to celebrate. She said, with lots of exuberance, “Nana, because you write for Longmont, can I draw the whole city?!! She settled for an Apple computer where folks can read the Drop In With Debbie Blog. She gave me the best gift ever!

 

My nascent writing skills continue to be challenged as we ride this adventure together. I’m sharing a look-back of pictures of the many faces we’ve met – circus owners, pilots, artists, business owners, musicians, teachers, veterans, volunteers, community leaders – all have inspired us.  I love giving you a glimpse into their lives.  Jan, a reader from the East Coast says: “A year! Congratulations. It is making a difference in people’s lives as you challenge all of us to be our better selves”.  I want each of you to be inspired and delighted with the interesting folks introduced to you each month. Readers, you are the reason this blog has such success. I sincerely thank you for reading!

 

 

Until next month, peace be at your side, 

Debbie Noel

We have several ways to interact with Debbie!

• Email her at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com

• Register at the blog site (very bottom of the page) to have your comments viewed online

• Send your letters to:

Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

 

 The East Boulder County Artist Studio Tour will be held from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29^th. Maps will be available at the Longmont Senior Center and on the EBCA website. You can also contact Donna Clement for a map. For more information including the map and list of participating artists go to http://ebcacolorado.org/september-studio-tour

Donna Clement Studio: 1129 2nd Ave, Longmont
Phone number: 303-827-6389
Email address: donna.clement.art@gmail.com
Website: donnaclementart.com
Facebook: Donna Clement Visual Art
Instagram:  donna_clement_visualart