April Joyce Kelly (née Hawkins), age 70, of Luck, WI, died October 14, 2021, shortly following a cancer diagnosis.

April is survived by husband, Joe Kelly of Luck, WI; son, Brian (Gina) and grandsons, Brendon and Nick of New Richmond, WI; daughter, Kristal Hawkins of Minneapolis; sister, Rosie Plaster (Andy) of Willernie, MN; and countless beloved family and friends.

Descended from preachers, patriots, a poet, a miner, and a sailor, April was raised by her mother and grandparents on the east side of St. Paul, when goats still roamed a neighboring lot. A good student and sweet child, she climbed trees, played ball, and roamed with the neighborhood’s kids. She also spent time on her aunt and uncle’s Lake Elmo dairy farm.

After leaving St. Paul’s Johnson High School, April worked as a hairdresser. She later became a Registered Nurse, rising to the position of Director of Nurses at Golden Oaks and earning a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in St. Paul. After she and Joe moved up north to Wisconsin, she worked as a pool nurse in the area; colleagues from Golden Age were among the gracious and giving nurses and CNAs caring for her in her last days.

April said that her mother believed that the most important thing is to be kind. April lived that lesson herself; people loved her for it. She was as strong and smart as she was kind; people loved her all the more for that.

She was a formidable opponent in poker and in Scrabble. April enjoyed word games and Sudoku, and police procedural TV and crime novels; “Badlands” was a favorite movie. She decorated her immaculate and tasteful home with her own digitally manipulated landscape photos and with thrift shop and discount store finds that she turned into art.

A Gathering will be held Thursday, October 21, 4:00-7:00 p.m., at Rowe Funeral Home, 206 2nd Ave. E., Luck, WI. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any organization reflecting April’s own kindness toward others and concern for the world.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home in Luck and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown.

Last Update: Oct 18, 2021 10:16 am CDT