Kelli Renee Rater Wright

Kelli Renee (Rater) Wright, 67, was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025, after a recent diagnosis of kidney and heart failure. A memorial service and celebration of Kelli’s life will be held on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at the Elkhart Christian Church in Elkhart, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be from 10am-11am with the memorial service to follow at 11am. Kelli was born on September 11th, 1958, in Newton, Iowa. Kelli lived in several cities/states during her youth, due to her Dad’s employment, with the family finally settling in Ankeny, Iowa, in 1967. Kelli would always consider Ankeny her “home”, and would be one of Ankeny’s biggest fans and supporters her entire life. Kelli graduated from Ankeny HS in 1976, and still remained very good friends with so many of her classmates and their families. Kelli loved all things Ankeny, and was so proud of helping with a Class project to research the history of Ankeny’s “Old Bell” that used to sit on the grounds of Parkview since 1971. Kelli was in the first class to graduate from the new Ankeny HS in 1976, and loved all things ’76 because of this. She loved her country, her flag, and all things Americana, and proudly displayed several of these items in her home, along with the ribbon and the bell that she wore around her neck at her graduation to commemorate our country’s Bicentennial. Kelli was active in Spanish and was so proud to travel to Mexico when she was in high school with so many of her dear friends. Kelli was in Blue Birds as a young girl and was active in Rainbow in high school and was so proud to have been promoted to Worthy Advisor. Kelli moved to Des Moines after graduation and worked for her cousin, John Coulter, at Underwriters Associates, and was so proud to have her first apartment with her friend, Dena, directly across the street. Her younger siblings used to love getting to go spend the night with her at her apartment. Kelli would then leave Des Moines for Denver, Colorado, where she worked at a shoe store at Cinderella City, one of Denver’s premier malls back in the 70’s/80’s. Other jobs that Kelli would hold were a Kindergarten teacher’s associate and she also taught English to Spanish-speaking children. Kelli was very proud of her Spanish speaking abilities. But the most important job Kelli would ever hold was that of being a Mother to her son, Daniel Leroy, born in 1983, and her daughter, Kassandra Lanee, born in 1991. Kelli would also suffer a miscarriage between Daniel and Kassie, which she grieved over her entire life. Kelli would then be promoted to her next job and greatest joy of her life…Grandmother. Her grandchildren were the source of so much pride and she bragged about them all to everyone she met. She was constantly posting pictures of them through the years, and telling of all of their milestones and accomplishments. Never, was there ever, a grandchild who was loved more by their Grandma, than Kelli’s grandchildren, even those she was never able to meet. She was always there, in any capacity that she possibly could be, for her children and her grandchildren, and that never, ever wavered in her life, right up to her very last breath. My hope is that they will ALL always know just how much she loved them and how proud of them she always was…no matter what. Kelli is survived by her beloved Mother, Sondra Ratliff of Ankeny, IA, sister, Lani Kirschman of Salem, OR, brother Jeff (Tommie) Rater of Carrollton, MO, brother Ken Rater (Cindy Braum) of Lenexa, KS, sister Jami (Todd) Martin of Ankeny, IA, very special bonus sisters, Peggy Rater of Lenexa, KS, and Lisa Rater of Overland Park, KS, son Daniel (Mary) Wright of Middleburg, FL, daughter, Kassie Aschan of Ames, IA. Cherished Grandchildren, Aubrie Mohr, Serenity Swacker, Kaden Birkness, Isabella Birkness, and Marjorie Grace Wright. Numerous aunts, uncles & cousins, and beloved nieces and nephews, Amber Williams, Kara Brown, Jean Campbell, Erika Rater, Kennedy Rater, Jordan Bishop, Ashley Heins, Amber Ritchart, TJ Rater, Austin Anderson, Kristina Anderson, Alex Martin, and several great-nieces and nephews. Greeting her in Heaven are her beloved Dad, Kenneth Rater, Sr., her bonus Dad, Larry Ratliff, dear brother Michael Halferty, all of her beloved grandparents, several aunts, uncles & cousins, sister-in-law Danell Friesner, nephew Dustin Friesner, and niece April Friesner. Kelli lived by The Golden Rule…”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”. The best way to honor Kelli’s memory is to love like she did. Accept as she did. Forgive as she did. Find joy as she did. Help when you are able, as she did. And, never take one single breath for granted, for tomorrow is never promised… In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the family will be accepted in Kelli’s honor to be donated to the family’s choice.

Kelli Renee Rater Wright

September 11, 1958 - September 16, 2025