Deb Kellison

Deb Kellison, 57, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids, with a time for family to share memories beginning at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 29, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.

Deb was born June 18, 1968, in Cedar Rapids, to Donald and Maxine (Benda) Skala. She graduated from LaSalle High School with the Class of 1986. While working at Jack’s Discount, she met the love of her life, Randy, and the two were united in marriage on March 7, 1987, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Deb later worked for Nordstrom Direct. She was a devoted member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church before transferring to St. Ludmila Catholic Church.

Deb and Randy created a beautiful family. She lived for her family, and her children and grandchildren were her lifelines. Through activities and every milestone, wherever they were, you could bet that Deb was there cheering them on with her camera in hand. In fact, she was our family photographer – capturing every single moment in all of our lives. We are so grateful now for the endless pictures she snapped.

Family gatherings were her happy place, whether in their backyard, at a holiday dinner, or at an Iowa game – any excuse to get together, she would be there. When she wasn’t hanging with family, Deb and Randy were off vacationing with friends, laughing, shopping, or her favorite – lounging by the pool with a fun drink in hand.

Deb’s side hobby was DIY projects. She loved working with tools and challenged herself multiple times. She was a two-time breast cancer survivor, a fighter who not only battled for her own life, but reached out multiple times to encourage others fighting the same fight. Her strength was quiet but fierce, and her faith unshakable.

Oh, how she loved Randy “Bear” – her rock, her partner. A perfect night would be the two of them relaxing outside, listening to music as they shared their thoughts.

We will miss her laugh, her sass, her hugs, and her beautiful smile. Our hearts are broken, but our lives are fuller because she was in them. She always said, “everything happens for a reason,” and she truly believed this. It will take a long time for us to understand this reason. But she would want us to celebrate her life, not just mourn her passing. So that is what we will do – tell stories, laugh, cry, and most of all, love each other more, just like she taught us.

Survivors include her husband, Randy Kellison of Cedar Rapids; children, Britni (David) Warburton, Brooke (Josh) Lorenzen, and Blake (Makynzie) Kellison, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Ella, Maci, Emma, Kobe, Tycen, Shiloh, and Trey; siblings, Shirlee (Marvin) Lynn of Hartwick, Iowa, Gary (Lori) Skala, Lori (Ron) Grant, and David (Julie) Skala, all of Cedar Rapids; many nieces and nephews; in-laws, Harold and Mary Hensel; brothers-in-law, Donald (Karleen) Kellison and Michael (Lisa) Kellison; and special friends, Melissa and Dave Dostal, Nicole and Ryan Lee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Maxine Skala; brothers, Jim Skala and Bob Skala; two nephews, Jeffrey Lynn and Kyle Kellison; and in-laws, Virgil and Margaret Kellison.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to the family.