| Edward J. Ahern |
|---|
Edward J. Ahern, of Friend, died Friday, May 7, 1999, at Warren Memorial Hospital, Friend, at the
age of 87 years, 1 month and 4 days. He was born April 3, 1912, on a farm north of Friend in Seward County,
to Thomas L. Bridget (Delaney) Ahern. As a young boy, Edward attended Friend Public Schools, later graduating
from the class of 1930. Edward was united in marriage to Eleanor E. Bergman on July 4, 1934 at Friend. To this
union a son, Tom and two daughters, Pat and Phyllis were born. Together they have lived in Friend, where they
celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1994. Ed started working for Harry Johnson as a senior in high
school, thinking it would be only a temporary job, but ended up working for 39 years, most of those as a
general manager. On Jan. 1, 1971, he and Ron Styskal joined in partnership and Ed found himself serving
customers for a total of 59 years at the "corner drug store" before his eventual retirement.
He was a member
of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the American
Charity Council, Friend School Board, St. Joseph church board usher and historian, Friendship Terrace Board
of Directors and past president and member of the Friend Chamber of Commerce. Edward enjoyed
gardening, golfing, bowling, playing cards with his family and friends, and putting together family scrapbooks.
Ed also will be remembered for his daily devotion to mass and rosaries, as well as his attendance at funerals,
showing respect for his many friends, family and customers.
Edward is survived by his daughters, Pat Hoarty
and her husband Gene of Geneva; Phyllis Hobbs and her husband John of Bellevue; son Tom Ahern and
his wife Kathy of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Eugene
Bergman and his wife Terry, Detroit lakes, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Netha Van Halbeck, Hinckley, Minn. And
Helen Haggy of Duluth, Minn.; cousins, Mary E. Hoecker, Moreno Valley, Calif., Ann Green of Dorchester;
nieces, Marge Johnson, Friend, and Virginia Knight of Lincoln. He was preceded in death by his parents;
wife Eleanor in 1995; an infant grandson, twin infant great-grandchildren; his granddaughter’s husband,
Shane Schelkopf; a brother, Earl Ahern, and a sister Mary Margaret Ahern.
Funeral mass was conducted
Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Friend with Fr. James Cooper and Fr. Mike
Pfeiffer officiating. A rosary was held Monday, May 10 and a Knights of Columbus rosary also held Monday
evening, both at the church. Interment was held in St. Joseph Cemetery in Friend. Casket bearers were
grandsons, Tim Hoarty, John Hoarty, Tom Hoarty, Joe Hoarty, Shawn Hobbs, Shane Hobbs, Michael Ahern
and Stephen Ahern. Dolores Lyons, organist, accompanied Deb Hoarty, soloist, as she sang "Ave Maria"
and the congregation as they sang "Our Father," "Amazing Grace" and "On Eagles Wings." Greg Holdren
was the Lector and granddaughters Shannon Schelkopf, Sherri Whitenour, Kathy Salazar, Angela Ahern,
and Cassie Tierney presented the offertory gifts. Great-grandsons, Sean Hoarty and Dustin Hoarty along
with Alan Holdren and Joe Holdren were the servers. Memorials have been established to the St. Joseph
Catholic Church or to the American Cancer Society. Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend, was in charge
of the arrangements. |
| — The Nebraska Signal 12 May 1999 |
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