DRACUT - Capt. Donald L. Kelleher, 74, a longtime resident of Dracut, loving husband, father, and grandfather, died Thursday December 4, 2008. He was the beloved husband of Waltraud "Val" (Beil) Kelleher, to whom he was married for 54 years.
He was born in Lowell on June 4, 1934, and was the son of the late James J. and Florence D. (Murphy) Kelleher. He received his education in Lowell schools and was a graduate of St. Michaels and Lowell High School. He also received his Degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Essex.
Capt. Kelleher served in the Army National Guard.
Don worked his way through the ranks of the Dracut Police Department where his career began as a patrolman serving the community of Dracut. Shortly after he was promoted to the rank of detective, and he retired as Captain of the Dracut Police Department.
He enjoyed reaching out to family and friends and being a part of the Dracut community. He was an avid sports fan especially the Boston Red Sox. He loved the outdoors and spending time by the pool with all those who would share a good story, a laugh, or a sunny afternoon with him. He received great joy from hearing his grandchildren’s accomplishments in the classroom, on the sports fields, or on their day to day life. Don suffered from a stroke many years ago, but his immense love for life kept him going. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with those he truly loved and loved him – his family, grandchildren, children, friends, and his best friend, his wife Val.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Donald L. Kelleher Jr. and his wife Joyce of Maine, Steve Kelleher and his wife Debra of Kensington, NH, and Peter Kelleher of Lowell; three daughters, Kathleen Kelleher of Dracut, Karen Kelleher of Malden, and Jennifer Ziemba and her husband Gary of Dracut; eight grandchildren, Ryan, Mathew, Jacob, Shayla, Zachery, Brooke, Kyle, and Shane; a brother Daniel Kelleher and his wife Bessie of Dracut; two sisters Florence Rudolph of Nashua, NH, and Carol Brousseau and her husband George of Pelham, NH, sister in- laws, Antoinette Kelleher, Lilo Jablonski, and brother in law Hans Beil, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also the brother of the late James Kelleher, and Uncle of the late Lawrence Kelleher.
Friends may call at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Avenue, DRACUT, on Monday from 4 until 8 PM. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Tuesday at 9 AM, followed by his Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 AM at St. Michael Church in Lowell. Rite of Committal will be celebrated at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford.