DANIEL J. McKERNAN

LATIMER, MCKERNAN, PFEIFFER, EVENSTAD

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 3/5/2003 at 14:43:52

Daniel J. McKernan

Telegraph Herald - Thursday, February 27, 2003

Daniel J. McKernan, 79, of Bellevue, Neb., formerly of Dubuque, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, at Midlands Hospital, Papillion, Neb.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Raphael's Cathedral, Dubuque. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, Dubuque, where there will be a scripture wake service at 4:30 p.m.

He was born on Feb. 26, 1923, in Shullsburg, Wis., son of James and Katherine (Latimer) McKernan. He graduated from Darlington High School in 1942.

He immediately entered the armed forces and joined the Army Air Corps during World War II. Daniel was crew chief with the 48th Troop Carrier Squadron 9th Air Force, which flew C47 Dakota planes and CG-4A gliders. He served in North Africa, Sicily and Europe and participated in the Normandy invasion by dropping the 101st airborne troops on D-Day. He earned the EANE Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars; a Silver Star; a Good Conduct Medal; and a World War II Victory Medal.

After the war, Daniel married Ruth Ann Pfeiffer on June 8, 1957; she passed away on Oct. 11, 1988.

He had resided in Dubuque since 1967 and owned and operated Dubuque Seed Co. Daniel also was a 30-year distributor of the Des Moines Register newspaper.

He was a Past Commander of the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6 and a past board member of the Colt 45 Drum and Bugle Corps in Dubuque.

He had spent this past year residing with his son, Pat, in Nebraska.

Surviving are two sons, James F. (Amy) McKernan and Patrick J. (Mary) McKernan, both of Bellevue; 10 grandchildren, Robert, Michael, Philip, Matthew, Joseph, Maggie, Melissa, Nicole, Daniel and Katie; a sister, Kathryn Evenstad, of Darlington, Wis.; and a very special friend, Sylvia Westhoff, of Dubuque.

He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Merlin and Francis McKernan; and three sisters, Mary, Sarah and Clara.

Memorial contributions may be given to Midlands Hospital Foundation and the American Diabetes Association, c/o Jim McKernan, 607 Martin Drive N., Bellevue, Neb. 68005.