William Gale Breen 1921-2004

BREEN, MILLER, COOPER, HUFFMAN, CARL, MANKA, DAVIS

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 9/10/2006 at 23:30:48

the Burlington Hawkeye, May 8, 2004

William Breen

William "Bill" Gale Breen, 82, of Fort Madison, died at 10 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004, at Fort Madison Community Hospital. He had been in failing health for one month and seriously ill for three weeks.

Born June 19, 1921, he was the son of Robert and Ruth Miller Breen. He married Rita Virgil Cooper on April 24, 1943, at St. Joseph's Rectory in Fort Madison. She died May 18, 1990.

Mr. Breen was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in Italy. He worked for DuPont Corporation in Fort Madison for 37 years before retiring. He and his wife owned and operated Breen's Newsstand in Fort Madison for 22 years.

He enjoyed dancing and visiting with people at the casino.

Survivors include two daughters, Susan Huffman of Goose Lake and Judith Carl of Carthage, Ill.; one son, Patrick Breen of Denmark; two sisters, Vivian Manka of Fort Madison and Marge Davis of Milan, Ill.; five grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at King-Lynk Funeral Home in Fort Madison, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. Breen will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Church in Fort Madison, with the Rev. Thomas Parlette officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for SS. Mary and Joseph Church. Contributions may be left at the funeral home or at the church the day of the service.