Joseph D. Kellar, Owned Antique Business, 78
DGH
Joseph Kellar, of Elburn, Illinois, co-owner of Toby House Antiques,
formerly in Wheaton, Illinis, and Oak Park, Illinois, died of leukemia
Monday, December 5, 2005, in Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva,
Illinois, at the age of 78.
Joseph D. Kellar had a deep appreciation and understanding of Japanese
art that began in the early 1950s while serving with the Air Force in
Korea.
"It all started with a trip he took to Japan, where he first laid eyes
on small pieces of inlaid enamel known as cloisonne," said his
daughter, Coral Stern. "The colors and shapes were extraordinary to
him. It was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen in his
life."
Years later, Mr. Kellar parlayed his fascination for this art form and
others into a successful antique business, which family members said
served as his lifetime passion and profession.
"Joe was a true art and antique dealer, dedicated and extremely
knowledgeable, whose pieces were only of the highest quality," said
Terry Dunning, a longtime Chicago-area auctioneer. "He was
well-respected and known throughout the country, but besides all that
he was just a wonderful guy to do business with."
Born in Kokomo, Indiana, the son of a salesman whose work sent him all
over the Midwest, Mr. Kellar spent most of his childhood in Oak Park
and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1945. He
went on to attend the University of Illinois, where he enrolled in a
pre-military program that specialized in weather forecasting.
At the close of World War II, Mr. Kellar entered the Army and was
stationed in Greenland for a couple years. He then transferred into the
Air Force and served in Korea in the Korean War.
After his military discharge in 1952, Mr. Kellar returned to Chicago
and later moved to Champaign, where he resumed his college studies
under the GI Bill. He worked for several years as a manufacturer's
sales representative for a couple of bearing and fastener companies in
Chicago.
In 1974, Mr. Kellar married his wife of 31 years, Barbara. The wedding
ceremony was at the old Kane County Courthouse in Geneva.
"For two people who loved antiques and historic architecture, it was
the perfect setting for a wedding," said his daughter.
A year later, Mr. Kellar and his wife settled in Wheaton and opened a
shop on Front Street called Toby House Antiques, which they named after
their large collection of antique Toby mugs from England. The couple
closed that store in 1979 and moved to Oak Park, where they reopened
their shop under the same name on Oak Park Avenue. They closed that
store in 1986, but continued participating in antiques shows.
"They had a lovely shop in Oak Park," recalled his daughter. "It was
the kind of store you'd walk into even if you weren't shopping for
antiques."
Over the years, Mr. Kellar's antique business took him and his wife all
across the country, to major shows in New York, Texas, and Miami. It
specialized in large sculptures of bronze and marble from the 19th
Century, and boasted a clientele that included many well-known antique
collectors, such as former Illinois Gov. James Thompson, family members
said.
"They sold museum-quality paintings and antiques that were true pieces
of art," his daughter said.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Kellar is survived by three
sons, Greg Kellar, Craig Moffett and Martin Moffett; a daughter, Tania
Chizzo; a sister, Marjorie Behrendt; 10 grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
Chicago Tribune
Bob Feigel
magnanimously proffered:
>Joseph Kellar, of Elburn, Illinois, co-owner of Toby House Antiques,
>formerly in Wheaton, Illinis, and Oak Park, Illinois, died of leukemia
>Monday, December 5, 2005, in Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva,
>Illinois, at the age of 78.
http://www.kcchronicle.com/MainSection/obituaries/284879912057972.php
Joseph D. Kellar
ELBURN — Joseph D. Kellar, 78, of rural Elburn, died Monday, Dec. 5,
2005, at Delnor-Community Hospital, Geneva.
He was born Nov. 14, 1927, in Kokomo, Ind., the son of Leslie D. and
Margaret A. (Ulrich) Kellar. Joseph's father was a salesman whose work
took their young family to several communities, but Joseph's school
years were spent in Oak Park, where he graduated in 1945.
He went on to attend the University of Illinois, where he enrolled in
a pre-military program. He specialized in weather forecasting and
entered the U.S. Army at the close of World War II. In the years that
followed, he served in Korea and eventually transferred to duty with
the U.S. Air Force.
Returning home in 1952, he moved to Chicago, where his parents had
come to make their home. He continued his college education under the
GI Bill and began working as a manufacturer's sales representative for
several bearing and fastener companies.
On Nov. 27, 1974, he was united in marriage to Barbara Joyce (Key)
Moffett at the old Kane County courthouse. For two people who loved
antiques and historic architecture, it was the perfect setting. They
made their home in Wheaton, where they opened the Toby House Antiques
on Front Street.
Later, their son Craig joined them for a time and, in 1979, they
opened a shop in Oak Park which eventually became "home base" for this
business which took them all across the country to major shows in New
York, Texas, Miami and, of course, Chicago. Their shop was far more
than an outlet for "flea market furnishings." Joseph was well
respected for his knowledge of Japanese art, including cloisonne. He
specialized in large sculptures of bronze and marble and paintings.
Through the "family years," Joseph coached a speed skating team in
Lombard as well as Little League and American Legion teams. He always
was very involved in sports but was particularly fond of golfing and
tennis.
Always passionate about whatever he pursued, Joseph also had a quick
wit that served him well in his business travels. He was a member of
MENSA and the Oriental Arts Society.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of rural Elburn; five children,
10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Greg (Judy Swardell)
Kellar of Naperville, his daughter, Angela (Brian) Mueller of
Shorewood and her children, Evan and Colin; Coral (David) Stern of
Thousand Oaks, Calif., and their family, Holly Schlueter, and Danielle
Stern, Tania (David) Chizzo of Glendale Heights, their son, Eric
(Heather) of DeKalb, and twin daughters, Amanda and Megan; Craig
(Linda) Moffett of Hinckley and their family, Patrick and Kelly;
Martin (Jessica) Moffett of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and their family,
Ava and James. He also is survived by his sister, Marjorie (Harold)
Behrendt of Mesa, Ariz., and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Carolyn.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Conley
Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. The funeral will be at 11
a.m. Friday, Dec. 9. The Rev. Ernst Rex, pastor of Grace Lutheran
Church, Lily Lake, will officiate. Cremation will follow with private
family committal services to be held later.
Memorials in his name can be made to Grace Lutheran Church and mailed
in his name in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and
memories also can be forwarded to the family through
www.conleycare.com. For information, call Conley Funeral Home at (630)
365-6414.
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen
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