Francis Nevins McQuaid

MCQUAID

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 1/1/2007 at 15:40:50

Mac McQuaid
posted with permission from:

Denison Bulletin/Review

Denison IA 51442

12/26/2006

Francis Nevins McQuaid was born on October 18, 1917, the son of William and Mary Ellen Nevins McQuaid. He died Friday, December 15, 2006 at the age of eighty-nine.

Mac as he was best known, was born in Stuart, Iowa and received his education in both Stuart and Danbury Community Schools. After completing his education, he worked for the Rail Road, Bell Creek Trucking and Fruehauff Trucking companies in Nebraska; the telephone company where he was a senior lineman,
On August 19, 1941, Mac entered the U.S. Army and served with Company C of the 328th Engineer Combat Battalion. His service to his country saw him in Sicily, Naples, Foggia, Rome- Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and central Europe. He was decorated with the Purple Heart Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for injuries suffered in action May 26, 1944 in Italy and again, December 22, 1944 in Germany. Other medals awarded him include the Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal and the American Defense Service Ribbon. Other awards include the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Battle Star; 4 Overseas Service Stars and 1 Service Stripe and a Bronze Service Arrowhead. He was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army on September 3, 1945 but was assigned to the Nebraska National Guard Instructor Group in Lincoln Nebraska until his Honorable Discharge from that unit on May 20, 1953.

On April 25, 1952, Mac was united in marriage to Dorothy Lahr in Lincoln, Nebraska. After completing his military duties, they settled in Council Bluffs and were blessed with the birth of one child. In 1980, Mac retired and the couple moved to Dow City, Iowa. In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching and feeding birds, Polka music and played the Harmonica and the Concertina. He was proud of his flag and the country he fought to preserve. He had a good sense of humor and enjoyed the companionship of family and friends. He was a member of the Disabled Veterans.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother John; brothers-in-law, Bill, Dean, Lyle Lahr; sisters-in-law, Grace Head and Viola Lahr.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Dow City, one daughter Shirley Osler and her husband, Jerry of Council Bluffs; three grandchildren, Casey Hilderbrand and wife, Mary Ann of Council Bluffs; Gina Hilderbrand and husband, Gary Vacek of Omaha; Lisa Hilderbrand of Council Bluffs; four great-grandchildren, Travis Bennett, Melanne, Becca and Nicole Hilderbrand all of Council Bluffs and one great-great-grandchild Justin Cox also of Council Bluffs; a brother Joe of Loveland, Colorado; and one sister, Mary Ann Bergman and her husband, Bill of Yankton, South Dakota; brothers-inlaw: Emmett Lahr and wife, Mary Anne of Carroll; Silvester Head and wife, Marlene of Dow City; sisters-in-law, Donna Oster and husband Bob of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Kay Delance and husband Ron of Venice, Florida; Connie Yopp and husband Paul of Council Bluffs; Sandy Lahr of Emporia, Kansas and Ellen Lahr of Dow City; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa. Fr. Donald Slaven officiated the services and grave side rites held at the Dow City Cemetery in Dow City, Iowa. Service music included the selections, "In the Garden" and "The Old Rugged Cross."

Those serving as honorary pallbearers were: Casey Hilderbrand, Lisa Hilderbrand, and Gina Hilderbrand; those serving as pallbearers were: Mick Gordon, Doug Head, Mark Head, Bob Oster, Butch Lahr, Scott Lahr, and Dale Lahr. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post No. 444 of Dow City, Iowa. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them in fellowship and lunch served by St. Mary's Altar Guild. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.