Deward D. McIntosh

Deward D. McIntosh, 95, of Grand Island, formerly of Palmer, died Sunday, July 6, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Ray Kosmicki and James Murphy will officiate. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Fullerton, with graveside military honors by Burton-Beyer American Legion Post 120 of Palmer. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. McIntosh was born on Dec. 15, 1918, on a farm east of Petersburg, the son of William Bert and Mary Christina (Nelson) McIntosh. He is survived by his wife, Carol McIntosh of Grand Island; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Deward Douglas McIntosh of Grand Island, Terry L. and Amy McIntosh of Palmer, William Bert and Beverly Ann McIntosh of St. Paul and Rick and Diane McIntosh of Grand Island; two daughters and one son-in-law, Jody and Roger Nelson of Mead and Dixie McIntosh of Savannah, Georgia; four step-children and spouses, Gail and Joel Buller of Lincoln, Gary and Kitty Johnson of Kearney, Geri and Scott Roman of Boone, NC, and Norman Loucks of Woodward, OK. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; 9 step-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Bernadette McIntosh of St. Edward and Frances Huff of Maryland; and one brother-in-law, Dayle Horner of Grafton. Deward grew up on the family farm and attended country school in the Petersburg area. He then farmed with his father before moving to California where he worked on a dairy farm. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the United States Army from Nov. 15, 1941 to Dec. 23, 1945. After serving his country he returned to Nebraska to farm. He was united in marriage to Helen M. Gdowski on Oct. 4, 1948, at St. Edward. The couple first farmed in the St. Edward and Genoa area until 1955 when they moved to a farm near Fullerton and in 1960 to a farm south of Palmer. Deward also worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Grand Island for 20 years, retiring in 1980. Helen died on June 17, 2000, and he continued to live on the farm. He was united in marriage to Carol Lee (Horner) DeBrie on Feb. 14, 2004, at St. Paul. He and Carol lived on the farm until June 2013, when they moved to Grand Island. He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church of St. Paul, Burton-Beyer American Legion Post 120 of Palmer and was a former member of the Eagles in Grand Island. Deward liked to work, but also found time to enjoy music, dancing, camping, fishing, hunting, playing cards and spending time with his family. He also dearly loved his dog, Buddy. In addition to his first wife, Helen, he was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Sandra McIntosh; grandsons, Allan and Adam Nelson; great-granddaughter, Ava Else; five brothers, Arnold, Ernest, Joe, Gerald and Boyd McIntosh; and two sisters, Blanche Schumacher and Margaret McIntosh. Memorials are suggested to the Palmer Rescue Squad or to the family's choice. The family invites you to view their Facebook page: Remembering Grandpa Deward McIntosh.