Obituary for Kelly Jo Staggemeyer

Kelly Jo Staggemeyer, age 53, lost her life to a long, up and down battle of addiction on July 5, 2023. Kelly was a kind and generous daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, and friend who will be dearly missed. She was known for her great sense of humor and fun-loving spirit. Although Kelly had her struggles, she loved her family and was a true friend. She was always the one who could cheer you up with her contagious laugh and smile. Kelly recently told her sister, “Addicts don’t ever try to hurt their families, they love them more than anything.” This disease is just like cancer, no matter how hard you fight, sometimes the disease wins. We will forever cherish our memories and she will be sorely missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at St. Luke's Church in Eitzen. A luncheon will follow in the church basement.

A time of visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, and from 10:00 a.m., until the time of service, Wednesday, both at the church.

Kelly was welcomed into the world on September 13, 1969 to parents Dean and Betty (Burke) Staggemeyer. She was born in La Crosse, WI at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and baptized into St. Mary’s Catholic church in Hanover. Kelly later attended Eitzen Elementary School through 5th grade, and then onto Caledonia Public Schools. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1988, where she also participated in basketball and flag corp. She also loved playing summer softball with her friends.

Following graduation, Kelly moved to Minneapolis and graduated from the Aveda Institute and became a Cosmetologist for many years. Later she made a career change and started doing Trade Shows for Century Expo, a job she thrived at and loved. Kelly married Norm Lee in 1990 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and later divorced.

Kelly had many loves, most importantly family and friends. Her favorite companion was her dog, Kato. Recently, she took him to Rudy’s Drive-In and he pouted for a day because she didn’t order him a cheeseburger. She thought of her niece and nephews like her own children; always bragging them up and never missing a gift for birthdays or Christmas for them. She loved Nascar and the Dallas Cowboys, even though we tried to convert her to be a Vikings fan.

Kelly is survived by her parents, Dean and Betty; sister, Shelly (Mark) Tollefson; brother, Chad (Teri) Staggemeyer; niece, Kaylee Cavanaugh; nephews, Kyle Cavanaugh and Isaac Staggemeyer; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Freemont and Marie Staggemeyer and James and Rita Burke; uncle, Lyle Burke; and infant sister, La Dawn Mary.

Online condolences may be offered at this site.