Richard Finnerty

Hastings resident, Richard W. Finnerty, 82, of 1236 Webster Ave., died Thursday, February 2, 2006 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital. He lived the last several months of his life at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Village.

Rosary will be Monday, February 6, 2006; 7:30 P.M. at Butler-Volland Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, February 7, 2006; 2:00 P.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Parkview Cemetery, all in Hastings, Nebraska.

Mr. Finnerty was born January 26, 1924 in Hastings, Nebraska to William C. & Frances (Brandt) Finnerty. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1941 and served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII as a Flight Instructor at various air bases from 1942 until 1946. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He flew B-17's, B-24's and B-29's. He was also a musician in the military band. After the war, he returned to Hastings and was a car salesman at A.H. Jones Chrysler-Plymouth. On June 21, 1947, he married Mary Agnes Nealon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley, Nebraska and she preceded him in death on October 12, 2000. He graduated from Hastings College in 1948 with a degree in Business Administration. He purchased the Account Adjustment Bureau in about 1963, In 1965, he became a juvenile probation officer at the Adams County Courthouse. Later, he became a State of Nebraska juvenile probation officer, while his wife, Mary, continued to run the Account Adjustment Bureau. He retired in December of 1988. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, American Legion Post #11 for 60 consecutive years and a past Chef de Gare and Correspondent of Forty et Eight Voiture #675. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1123. He also served in the Adams County Veterans Color Guard at military burials.

Mr. Finnerty was preceded in death by his wife, Mary and a sister, Mary Jane Uhrich of Hastings.

Survivors include,
Son: William Finnerty -Hastings, NE
Daughter & Son-in-law: Linda & Mark Klein - Hastings, NE
Granddaughters: Julie L. Klein - Lincoln, NE
Jamie R. Klein - Hastings, NE

Memorial may be given to Adams County Veterans Color Guard or St. Michael's Catholic Church

VISITATION: Sun. 2-5-06; 1pm-9pm
Mon. 2-6-06; 9am - 9pm
Tue. 2-7-06; 9am until Noon
Tue. 2-7-06; 1 hr. prior to service at the church