Sally Jo Kelm, 67

Sally Jo Kelm, 67, of Grinnell and formerly of Tama, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A private burial will be at the Trinity Lutheran Church north of Malcolm.

In Sally’s memory, memorials may be designated to the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery Association and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with her family online at www.smithfh.com.

Sally was born on January 12, 1955, in Grinnell, Iowa, to LaVerne and Avis (Cogley) Kelm. She graduated from Grinnell High School in 1973 and received her BA in 1977 from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Sally taught for 32 years in the South Tama School District in Tama, Iowa.

Sally enjoyed traveling, and her favorite destinations were California, Arizona, Florida, London, and Puerto Vallarta. Her enjoyments included attending local events, watching Iowa Hawkeyes sports, and playing cards with her friends. She was the best aunt to her sistersá children, taking them on summer trips and spoiling them.

Sally is survived by her sisters: Lynn (Terry) Cline, of Grinnell, Paula Devereux, of Grinnell, and June (Scott) Waage, of Naples, Florida; nieces and nephews: Peter (Juliann) Cline, Amy (Jason) Levang, Julie (Brian) Sharar, Jill (Em) Danh, Daniel (Randi) Devereux, Ryan (Emily) Waage, and Lauren Waage; great nieces and nephews: Sydney (Steven) Tallman, Molly (Joe) Brennan, Jacob, and Sam Levang, Cody (Diamond) Sharar, Shania Sharar, Jacob, and Averi Devereux; great-great niece, Rhea Sharar; and Dee, Joe and Jon, Stan and Ilona and Alice and many Tama friends, all who Sally considered as family.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents and niece, Terri Lynn Cline.