Joseph Mckellar

Age 95, born October 13, 1919 in Rich Twp., Lapeer County, Michigan and left this life on February 23, 2015. Funeral service will be held 1:00 pm, Monday, March, 2, 2015, at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services in Mt. Morris. Reverend Russ Sommer will officiate with burial to follow at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, from 10:00 am until time of service at 1:00 pm. Memorial donations may be directed to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Joseph's parents, Nellie and Robert McKellar, had five children, of which Joseph was the middle child. He was the last one surviving. Joseph graduated from Mayville High School in 1937 and came to Flint shortly after to drive taxi. Here he met Helen Ostrander Nellett and fell in love and married her. Joseph proudly volunteered for the Army Paratroops in WWII. He served in the Pacific Theater making numerous combat jumps and liberating a prison camp. He was one of the lucky ones – he came home relatively unscathed and Helen was waiting. They were still in love nearly 60 years later when she preceded him in death in 2001. He bought a big truck and a semi trailer right after the Army and hauled freight all over the country for about five years before settling down in Flint again. He got a job at Buick Motors as a construction millwright and worked there nearly 30 years, retiring in 1981. He made many friends and thoroughly enjoyed the work and the people. After retirement he built a house in Au Sable, MI and moved up there. When the winters became too much he began spending them in Mission, Texas. He was 60 years a Mason and Past Master of both Mt. Morris Lodge #535 and Oscoda Lodge #243. He was very active in Masonry throughout his life. He was 30 years a Big Brother, having 5 Little Brothers over that time. He was very active with that organization and believed in their goals. His “littles” were frequently included in his family activities. He was still close friends with 2 of them, George Wilson and Larry Mitchell, at the time of his death. He was an avid outdoorsman. He particularly enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, and golf (which he took up at age 72). He was particularly proud of having “shot his age” at 84. Whatever he did, he did it full tilt and with his whole being. He always had time to help a neighbor. He always had time to tell a joke – or play one. He spent his final 10 years with his “significant other,” Iola Childers. They shared the good times and, when his health began to fail, she cared for him with strength and love in a way no one else could. He was very grateful, and Joseph’s family is very grateful to her. He is survived by a daughter, Sandra McKellar, a son Joseph Matthew McKellar – wife Denise, a grandson Dave McKellar – wife Brenda, a granddaughter Christine Borza and 2 great grandsons, William and Michael Borza.