Emmett A. "Shorty" McDermott 1923-2011

MCDERMOTT, MCDONALD, POTTS, SWEENEY, LARKIN, FALEY, MURRAY

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 10/30/2019 at 20:40:10

Dubuque Telegraph Herald - September 22, 2011

BERNARD, Iowa -- Emmett A. "Shorty" McDermott, 88, of 19550 Urbain Road, Bernard, died at 9:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque, surrounded by his family.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Holy Family Catholic Church, New Melleray, Peosta, with the Rev. Michael Podhajsky officiating, and the Rev. Joseph McDermott, SVD, the Rev. Xavier Deitiker and the Rev. Paul McDonald concelebrating. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Peosta. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Cascade, where a wake service will be held at 1:30 p.m.

Emmett was born on July 20, 1923, in Bernard, son of Alberic and Mary (McDonald) McDermott. He received his education in the rural country schools in the Fillmore area.

He married Dorothy Potts on Dec. 27, 1947, at the Nativity Catholic Church, Dubuque. The couple was the third generation to farm on their land near Bernard.

Emmett played softball until he was 73, as a left-handed pitcher. He was the founder of the New Melleray Athletic Association. He was an avid tractor puller in the Hawkeye Vintage Farm Machinery Association. He also was a member of the Farley Knights of Columbus-Council 2001 and a lifelong member of Holy Family Parish in New Melleray rural Peosta.

Emmett was a devoted family man; husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy McDermott, of Bernard; seven children, Larry (Sharon) McDermott, of Dubuque, Cherie McDermott, of Epworth, Terry (Kathy) McDermott and Tim (Lori) McDermott, both of Peosta, Tom (Stephanie) McDermott, of Cascade, Todd (Dana) McDermott, of Bernard, and Trace (Karen) McDermott, of Wichita, Kan.; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Bernice Faley and Marge Sweeney, both of Dubuque, and Pat (Joe) Larkin, of Bernard; and a brother, Charles (Irene) McDermott, of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Louis (Irene) McDermott, Bernard (Rita) McDermott and Clem (Imelda) McDermott; and two sisters, Mabel (Leo) Sweeney and Dorothy (Vince) Murray.