KELSEY, MARTIN C., MIKE KELSEY, JR., 67, of 915 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay and former owner of Palmer Johnson Yachts in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly Monday (July 22, 2002) in France. Mike was born September 9, 1934 in Dallas, Texas, the son of the late Martin C. and Esther Ann (Fisher) Kelsey. After finishing high school, he went on to receive a B.S. degree in geology from Southern Methodist University (1956) and a M.S. in geology (1957) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Geographical Society. Mike was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Palmer Johnson Yachts in August 2000. He served as its Chairman from 1990 and as President and Vice President since 1960. Before that, he was a research geologist with Atlantic Refining Company (now ARCO). An avid sailor, he was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Royal Air Force Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, the Great Lakes Cruising Club where he was Rear Commodore, and a past commodore of the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. He is a past director of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Boat Manufacturers. Mike was a trustee of St. Norbert College, Green Bay. In 1999, he was the first American to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Superyacht Society. He was also a member of the Radio Society of Great Britain, American Radio Relay League, and played principal double bass with the Green Bay Symphony in Green Bay. Mike and his wife, Margaret lived in Sturgeon Bay, Singapore and Antibes, Frances with their daughter, Elizabeth. Mike is survived by his wife Margaret and their daughter, Elizabeth Kelsey; five children from his first marriage, Beatrice (Lawrence) Stein of Windermere, Fla., Mike (Jeannine) Kelsey of Sturgeon Bay, Barbara (Mark) McIntire of Sartell, Minn., Peggy Kelsey (Mike Teich) of Whitefish Bay, Brian Kelsey of Geneva, Switzerland; two stepsons, Gary (Linda) Mihaley of South Salem, New York, and James Mihaley of Los Angeles, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; and one sister, Martha Kelsey Smith of Dallas, Texas. His parents and two sisters, Sue Leverman and Kathy Kelly, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held Tuesday July 30, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay, with Father Robert Karuhn as celebrant. Friends may call at Huehns Funeral Home of Sturgeon Bay on Monday, July 29, 2002 from 5-8:00 p.m. and at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mike Kelsey's name for the Green Bay Civic Symphony, P.O. Box 302, Green Bay, WI 54305. Huehns Funeral Home 1414 Michigan Street Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 (920) 743-5635
Published by Dallas Morning News on Jul. 26, 2002.
Contributor: Jim (47221269)