Kelly J. Deppen

Kelly Jean Deppen (Kline), of Gratz, went home to be with The Lord, Wednesday December 15, 2021. She is most assuredly at peace, as she walked devotedly hand-in-hand with Jesus all the days of her life. Kelly was born in Harrisburg, PA March 6, 1961. She graduated Redland High School in 1979. She was a keen academic, and won Redland a state Debate title. She then attended Messiah College, majoring in English. Kelly worked for many years in Harrisburg, in office sales and interior design. She drafted layouts for large scale office buildings, and sold the furnishings they needed for optimum efficiency. A point of pride for Kelly in this career was the design and sale of the interior suites of the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Kelly was raised in the Christian Life Assembly of Camp Hill, PA. She always maintained a profound faith. She felt the call of ministry and began Bridges Revelatory Ministry with her Husband, David Deppen. They provided spiritual advisory to many people of all walks and ages. At the suggestion of her son, Mitchell, bridges began to financially support and spiritually mentor a church in Tanzania, East Africa. Kelly's proudest achievements in ministry came in the form of three published books: The Parabola: Experiencing Jesus as Reality, Beacon: You are a Child of the Light, and Quantum Glory. These books reflected her personal devotion to God, while giving compelling testimony that Science, physics, and the Holy Spirit are indeed interwoven parts of our universe. Publishing these books gave Kelly the opportunity to speak, pray, and prophesy to congregations in all parts of the country. She created lasting friendships everywhere she visited. Kelly was a great fighter for social justice and equal rights. She worked with the Human Rights Campaign to lobby for the equal treatment of the LGBT community. She and her husband also ran an after-school mentorship program at the Northern Dauphin County YMCA. It brought her great joy to mentor and feed young people. Kelly always opened her home and heart to every friend her son had. She would listen and get to know them. Kelly became a great supporter of the central PA 717 DIY punk rock community. She allowed and helped her son and his friends to practice and have shows at her home in Gratz, PA. She would cook meals that are still remembered to this day. Many of these young people that Kelly encouraged have gone on to play across the country and the world. Where other people may have passed judgement, she realized that the youthful punk community was, in her words, "The Truest Thing." She was a brilliant cook with a sophisticated palate. She shared this love of food with her son. Kelly also enjoyed and excelled at gardening, tennis, swimming, golf, and crafting. She had an eclectic musical taste, and also studied classic film. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of actors, writers, and directors. Her favorite family destination was Cape May, NJ, where she spent childhood summers with her grandparents. She most enjoyed watching the sunrise on the beach, and the sunset over the lighthouse at Cape May Point. Kelly was also known for her everlasting sense of humor. She loved to laugh and could have any gathering in stitches with one of her many anecdotes. Many of these anecdotes centered around her beloved, hysterical brother, Tim Kline. She also always found a way to make light of the chronic illnesses that she carried through her adult life. Kelly battled MS, Leukemia, and many forms of chronic pain. Through this she never lost her humor, faith, empathy, and compassion. Kelly is Preceded in the afterlife by her daughter, Amey Elizabeth Rife; her parents Charles Kline and Doris Dravk; step-mother and spiritual mentor Nan Kline Passau; Parents-in-law William and Miriam Deppen; and her brother Timothy Kline. She will patiently wait to be joined by her husband of twenty-five years, David Deppen; her son Mitchell Rife and soon daughter-in-law September Evans; three step-children she loved as her own, Heidi, Andy, and Tony Deppen; her niece and nephew Megan and Erik Kline; her brother David Kline and his wife Cindy, and their two children Jakob and Nicolette; and her sister Janine Seilhamer and her husband Ron, and their four children, Zechariah, Malachi, Isaiah, and Sophia. Services will be held at Tree of Life Lutheran Church 1492 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg PA, on Wednesday 12/22/21. Visitation at 10 am and Services at 11 am. Graveside services will be held the following day, Thursday 12/23/21 at David's Church Cemetery in Hebe, PA, at 11 am.

Kelly J. Deppen

March 6, 1961 - December 15, 2021