Lanny Kelsey

Lanny K. Kelsey, 79 years old, a resident of Anchorage AK, passed away unexpectedly, on Wednesday May 11, 2022, in St. Cloud, MN, while traveling to help his wife's family.  Arrangements were by Brenny Funeral Chapel in Randall, MN.

Lanny (better known as Kelsey) was born and raised in Shelley ID, which was just the beginning of an extraordinary life.  Kelsey was talented, athletic, had an eye for art, and a love of history.  He had an unbelievable ability to fix anything and in doing so he made everything he did look easy with style and class.

Kelsey's abilities brought him athletic scholarships, employment with Boeing Aircraft, honorable Army service time in Vietnam, rodeo wins in Bull Riding, and successful Elk hunting in the hills of Idaho.

Kelsey was a part of history by working on the trans-Alaska pipeline, not just by driving truck but, by coordinating and dispatching drivers, to running the trucking companies. Kelsey worked the oilfields of the North Slope, and the offshore platforms of Cook Inlet, thus finishing his career as a supervisor on the Snow Team for Joint Elmendorf Airforce/Army Base doing snow removal on the streets and airfield runways.

However, fishing was his passion, from childhood fishing on the Snake River to Steelhead fishing in Washington, Salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska to his most loved challenge of Saltwater King Salmon in the Cook Inlet.  He guided on both the Kenai River and Cook Inlet for over 30 years.  He enjoyed spending the summers in Anchor Point with other like-minded fishermen and especially fishing and winning the Anchor Point King Salmon Derby.  Kelsey was just an all-around good guy that everyone liked, and everyone will miss.

He is survived by his companion and wife, Shirley (Gruber) of 37 years, the anchor of his life and the love of her life.  Kelsey leaves behind, his daughter Shelley Chaffin, Anchorage AK, sisters Linda Stanger (Lloyd) Idaho Falls, ID, and Ann Kelsey, Idaho Falls, ID, sister-in-law Margaret Kelsey, Utah with many nieces and nephews.

Kelsey is preceded in death by his Parents Max and Gay (Morgan) Kelsey and his brother Larry Kelsey.

Kelsey will return to Anchorage with his wife for his final resting place.