Elise Nicole (Malmberg) Kelley, 48, of Fremont passed away Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, at Nebraska Methodist Hospital. She was born Sept. 13, 1974, in O’Neill to Gary and Barb (Frese) Malmberg.
Elise grew up in O’Neill and was a 1993 graduate of O’Neill High School. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK) in 1998. In 2000 she received her Occupational Therapy Degree from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Within the last few years she received her Pediatric Occupational Therapist Certification from the University of Southern California (USC), she received her Master’s Degree in Pediatric Occupational Therapy from University of Wisconsin and was currently in the Doctoral Program at Methodist Health System in Omaha. She holds multiple certifications and endorsements in Pediatric Occupational Therapy.
She worked at Heartspring Health in Wichita and then started her own practice in Wichita. For the last 10 years she was an Outpatient Therapist at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Her passion was working with children with sensory disorders, especially autism. Many called her the child whisperer. Elise married Brian Kelley January 15, 2015, in Jamaica.
Elise was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, PEO, “AOTA” American Occupational Therapy Association and Alpha Phi Sorority at UNK. She had a knack for decorating and liked to work with flowers. She loved spending time at her parents’ place at Fort Randall Dam.
She is survived by her husband, Brian; stepsons, Jack and Josh Kelley all of Fremont; parents, Gary and Barb Malmberg of O’Neill; brothers, Casey Malmberg of Blair, and Cole (D.D.) Malmberg of Minneapolis, Kansas; parents-in-law, Ned and Linelle Kelley of Inman; special nieces and nephew, Reata, Tye and Coy Malmberg and her loving dog Zoey.
Elise was preceded in death by her grandparents.
Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont. Pastor Anthony Gerber will officiate. Memorial Visitation will be on 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Moser’s in Fremont. Interment will be at the O’Neill Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church Educational Fund or the Autism Center of Nebraska. Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.
