Dr. Charles "Chuck" Louis Kelly

Charles (Chuck) Louis Kelly of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 26th, 2026 at the age of 96.

He was born in Coldwater, Michigan, on August 6, 1929 to Don Calvin Kelly and Elizabeth Jean (Hutchins) Kelly. He lived in Elk Rapids, Michigan during his grade school years until the family moved to Traverse City where his father practiced dentistry.

He attended Traverse City Central High School and was very active in school government and everything musical. He was an accomplished clarinetist studying at Interlochen Arts Camp from 1943 - 46. He was active in scouting, a love he passed on to his five sons, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, as did two of his sons.

Chuck attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate and dental education, graduating from the school of dentistry in 1953. He continued his love of music during college, playing the clarinet in the Michigan Marching and Basketball bands. One of his fondest memories was playing in the band during the 1948 Rose Bowl.

In 1949, Chuck met the love of his life, Mary Dolores (Janusch) Kelly, at Rex Terrace on Elk Lake. They were married September 2, 1950 and welcomed their first son, Mike, 9 ½ months later. Chuck had joined the Navy during college and served his two-year commitment in French Morocco. During that time, he and "Dee" welcomed a third son to their growing family. They subsequently moved back to the Traverse City area and Chuck set up a dental practice, initially in Kingsley, later joining his father's practice in Traverse City in 1957. After his father's retirement, the practice (Traverse Dental Associates) grew significantly. Eventually two of his sons, Patrick and Kevin, practiced with him until Chuck's retirement in 1988. As a dentist, Chuck studied and instituted a more holistic approach to his patients and stressed nutrition as a means of healing patients, not just treating them. He gave many lectures and travelled internationally teaching these concepts and was elected a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry in 1987.

In retirement, Chuck continued his love of music, woodworking and jewelry making for Dee. They travelled extensively but were happiest on the water, spending many days and nights on their sailboat, exploring the Great Lakes.

Chuck was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years and eldest son, Michael. He is survived by his children Patrick Kelly (Mary), Kevin Kelly (Nancy), Daniel Kelly (Jan), Tracey Dreves (Rick), Timothy Kelly (Cindy), Colleen Andrews (Mitchell) and Michael's wife, Mary. He and Dee had 22 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.

Chuck will be remembered for his infectious smile, joy in life, inextinguishable energy, commitment to his wife, Catholic faith and love of his family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made on Chuck's behalf to Interlochen Center for the Arts and The Dennos Museum.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 5-7pm with a Rosary prayed at 6:45pm at The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. His Funeral Mass will take place at 11am with a visitation starting at 10am on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at St. Francis Catholic Church with a luncheon to follow. Burial will take place next to his beloved wife at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Dr. Kelly also wanted to share more of his family history below and his children chose to share it.

Born in Coldwater, Michigan August 6, 1929 to Don Calvin Kelly and Elizabeth Jean (Hutchins) Kelly. Grade school years were in Elk Rapids, Michigan during the depression which taught him to never throw anything away. His father opened a dental practice in Traverse City and the family moved to Old Mission Peninsula just before World War II.

He attended the Boardman School 7th grade. He was elected President of Jr. High (8th and 9th grades), President of the Junior Class, and High School Governor his Senior year, graduating in 1947. He served on the Student Council, was a member of the National Honor Soc. the school Band, Dance Band, Choir; Tennis Team, and the Bo-Gi Board. He was an Eagle Scout, Troop 30, Boardman School and the Jr Assistant Scoutmaster at the Eagle Scout Barracks on Mackinac Island 1945, 1946.

He studied Clarinet at Interlochen Arts Camp 1943, 44, 45, 46. He enrolled in pre dental at the University of Michigan 1947-1949 and graduated from University of Michigan School of Dentistry 1953. He played in the University of Michigan Marching and Basketball Bands, going to the Rose Bowl in 1948.

In 1949 he found his future wife of 74 years working as a summer waitress at Rex Terrace on Elk Lake. Her beauty, love of music, entrance to dental school, values, and personality were too much to ignore. They were married September 2, 1950 and M. Dolores Janusch added Kelly to her name. She was in her last year of Dental Hygiene School and he was a second year dental student.

Their first son was born shortly after her graduation. She was the first to be allowed by the Dental Hygiene Dean to be married and to be in school pregnant. She became the family bread winner and in 1953 they had their second son.

The new Dr. Kelly had joined the navy while in school and now joined a dental practice in Plymouth, Mi. while awaiting active duty orders. The orders arrived in 1954 and in 2 weeks he was in French Morocco looking for housing for the family and serving as a naval air force dentist. He found housing shortly and his wife took the family family of three took the 2 day trip across the Atlantic. (No jets back then).

In 1955 a third son was born. After almost two years of learning what it is like to be in a Muslim country the family happily returned to northern Michigan, surprising his wife who thought, of course, the family would be living in Detroit.

They moved back on Old Mission Peninsula with his father, Dr Cal Kelly until finding a house on 8th St. He purchased a dental practice in Kingsley, (with 1890's equipment) while his father was adding a space in Traverse City, to which he moved in 1957.

His wife and he moved the practice into a building next door they built in 1967, needing more room and adding Dr Bill Jerome to the practice, which became Traverse Dental Associates. In 7 years, still more space was needed and they moved into another building on 8th St. After much study, (American and Medical Preventive Medical Societies, and many Seminars in offices and meetings with other offices with the same philosophy. He was rewarded by seeing the majority of patients become disease free. This led to a chance to study and teach this new philosophy with others in a rewarding way.

in 1973 Dr. Fred Arnold joined the practice and then a son, Dr. Kevin Kelly followed by another son Dr. Patrick Kelly.

He retired in 1988 to enjoy hobbies of music, carpenter work, jewelry making, and traveling with his wife.

She left him February 3, 2025 after 74 years of marriage. Children: Michael Frederick Kelly (St. Francis graduate, Engineer, Attorney, two children) Patrick Calvin Kelly (St. Francis graduate, Dentist, two children Kevin Charles Kelly (T.C. Central graduate, Trojan Hall of Fame, Dentist, three children) Daniel Joseph Kelly T. C. Central graduate, Restaurateur-food caterer, three children) Theresa Marie Dreves (T. C. Central graduate, Trojan Hall of Fame Accountant, three children) Timothy John Kelly (T.C. Central graduate, Trojan Hall of fame, Physician, five children) Colleen Elizabeth Andrews (T. C. Central graduate, Nurse, four children)

Professional history:Past President Resort District Dental Society Past Secretary Resort District Dental Society, Past Chairman Michigan Dental Association Dental Education Committee, Various clinic presentations given in Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota, and North Carolina on nutrition and preventive dentistry, ie.:Resort District Dental Society, Flying Dentist's Assoc., Osteopathic Hospital Pre-Natal Lectures, Munson Medical Center "We Care" Lectures, Macomb County Dental Society, North Carolina Preventive Dentistry Society, North Slope Meeting, Bismark, North Dakota, Michigan Dental Assoc. Summer Session, Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, Keystone, Colorado. Lecture on Planned Giving and Financial Planning, USDTA, Phoenix, AZ.

Articles published: "Calculus: Result of Defective Calcium Metabolism" Michigan Academy of Dentistry Journal, Vol. 10, No 3, November, 1985; Various interview articles, Michigan Academy of General Dentistry Journal, Cultural exchange with dentists in USSR 1976, Leader for group of dentists from various areas of the United States to Peoples Republic of China for cultural exchange, lecturing, and hands-on clinical dentistry in March, 1982 Professional Memberships: American Equilibration Society, Bunting Periodontal Study Club, International Academy of Preventive Medicine, Northwest Academy of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern Michigan Academy of Practice, Administration, American Academy of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, International Life Sciences Institute Elected a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry, 1987

CIVIC ACTIVITIES: Kiwanis, American Cancer Society Board, Model Schools Committee St. Francis High School, Boy Scout Leader 1954-1972, T.C. Senior High Advisory Board, Secretary and President National Music Camp Alumni Board, President Grand Traverse University of Michigan Alumni Club, Community Band, Co-Chair with wife of Dennos Museum Benefit 1992, Pastoral Council- Immaculate Conception Church, Chairperson Liturgy Commission of Immaculate Conception Church, Forum 21 Committee- Northwestern Michigan College, President Interlochen Public Radio Station Advisory Board, Chamber of Commerce Education Committee; Committee on Development of Dental School, U of M; Chairperson Planned Giving Committee Interlochen Center for the Arts; Vice president Northern Michigan Planned Giving Council; Traverse City Economics Club Board of Directors; Presidents Club of Interlochen, University of Michigan, and Hillsdale College; Tappan Society of University of Michigan; Cantor and Church Choir; Encore Society Wind Orchestra;Fellow Northwestern Michigan College; former Trustee Interlochen Center for the Arts

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