Doris Mae Kelly, age 80, passed away in the early morning hours of July 18, 2026, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, the day of her 58th wedding anniversary. Doris was born to Joseph and Harriet (Ver Voort) Van Zeeland on May 10, 1946, in Kimberly, the youngest of four children.

She graduated from Kimberly High School in 1964 and met the love of her life, Jack Kelly, at Whitey's Tavern while working at American Can. However, Jack was called to the Vietnam War, and while he was in service from July 1965-67, Doris would bike from Kimberly to Appleton to share letters and get updates from Jack's family.

Upon returning home, Jack reconnected with Doris and they were engaged by December 1967. They married in 1968 at Holy Name Catholic Church and celebrated with friends and family at the Darboy Club. In 1969, they had their first child, Todd, followed by Scott in 1971 and Jenny in 1975.

Doris stayed home to raise her children before returning to work at Hoffmann Drug and later spending 23 years at Thrivent Financial, where she retired in 2007. She was a faithful and active member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Appleton. Doris loved spending time at Pine Grove Campground in Shawano or in her sunroom, tending to her geraniums, observing cardinals and orioles, playing sudoku and triominos, watching game shows and Survivor, and teasing her family by winking or exasperatedly saying "Jack!" She was proud to be a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and Jack's wife for 58 years.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings: James Van Zeeland and Ethel Brooke; her brothers-in-law: Paul Muehlenbein and Bill Brooke; her nephews: Joe Brooke and Mark Muehlenbein; her niece: Dawn Brooke; and her grandson Ethan Kelly.

Doris is survived by her husband Jack; her children: Todd (Lisa) Kelly, Scott (Amy) Kelly, and Jenny (Erik) Pinter; her grandchildren: Erica (Greg) Suchyta, Marissa (Steve) Knorr, Lauren and Ryan Kelly, and Alli and Lindsey Pinter; her great-grandchildren: Reid Suchyta and Cal Knorr; her sister Ione Muehlenbein; her brothers- and sisters-in-law: Sharon (Jon) Dyer, Pat (Grace) Kelly, Kristine (Geoff) Blethyn, Rebecca Kelly, Mary (Vince) Aurora, Peggy (John) Wydeven, Brian (Kathy) Kelly, and Joe (Lauren) Kelly; her many nieces and nephews across the country; and her life-long friend Judy Dietzen.

Doris' family would like to thank the community and staff at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna and ThedaCare hospice for their compassionate care of Doris.

The family will receive visitors at Brettschneider-Trettin-Nickel Funeral Home, 606 N. Oneida Street in Appleton, on Thursday, July 23 from 10am to noon. There will be a celebration of life for friends and family to follow.