Carroll "Kelly" Birkey went home to be with the Lord at 10:10 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2025, at his home.

He was born January 9, 1929, in Foosland.  Kelly was the son of Alvin and Amelia (Zehr) Birkey.  He married Minerva Stalter on February 24, 1950 at the East Bend Mennonite Church in Fisher.  They recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

Kelly is survived by his wife, Minerva; daughters Debbie (Arlo) Deremiah and Jan Wilson all of Paxton and one son, Jeff (Sherrill) Birkey of St. Joseph.  He is also survived by ten grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren and a son-in-law, Mike Adwell.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, an infant Kim Renee and Teri Adwell, one son-in-law, Jeff Wilson: one granddaughter, Haley Lukens, one great granddaughter, Madison Fuoss and one grandson-in-law, Brian Marshall.

Kelly attended Fisher High School and at age 18 he began working for Springer Implement in Fisher, where his brother, Floyd, was the manager.  In 1954, three of Kelly's brothers joined together to form Birkey's Farm Store in Fisher and Kelly was their first employee.  In 1967, Kelly became an owner when they added a store in Paxton.  He also managed the store in Hoopeston for several years.

Kelly retired in 1992 and joined the I&I Antique Tractor Club in Penfield.  The club brought him great satisfaction working with the farming community at the Historical Farm Days in Penfield and the Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul.  He served as president of the club in 2000-2001.

Kelly restored many red IH farm implements and Cub Cadets.  He liked to relate their restoration to how the Lord takes our broken and rusted lives and transforms them into new ones.  The greatest accomplishment Kelly believed he achieved was making Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior and was always inviting people to do the same.

Kelly and Minerva's joint visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Christian Life Church, 300 N. Maplewood Drive, Rantoul and also Friday one hour before the funeral service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the church.

Their funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2026, also at Christian Life Church, Rantoul.  A private family burial will follow the funeral service later in the day.  Baier Family Funeral Services, Paxton is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Christian Life Church, 300 N. Maplewood, Rantoul.  Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfunralservice.com.