Gerald M. "Buzzy" Quinn

Gerald M. “Buzzy” Quinn, 85, of Grand Island, died unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Mark A. Maresh will celebrate the Mass. Entombment will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, with military honors by The U.S. Navy Honors Team and the United Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church with a 7 p.m. wake service. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Mr. Quinn was born on Jan. 13, 1933, at Beaver City, the son of Floyd E. and Mary K. (Willey) Quinn. He attended country schools and graduated from Edison High School in 1950. After high school he began serving in the United States Navy Reserves in Pomona, California and enlisted in the United States Navy on Feb. 11, 1952. He was united in marriage to Joan C. Bockstahler on Nov. 25, 1954, in Claremont, California. The couple lived in various places on the west and east coast while he served in the Navy. He was discharged on Dec. 17, 1973 and moved his family to Oxford where he began working for Rockwell International in Kearney and in 1975 moved to Shelton. On July 3, 1978, he started working at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island and the couple moved to Grand Island in Sept. 1990. He finished his working career after 20 years at the VA, retiring on July 3, 1998. He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, American Legion and V.F.W., all in Grand Island. He and Joan were avid Husker football fans, being season ticket holders for 30 years, members of the Touchdown club and supporters of Husker Alumni. He loved all Husker sports, camping, watching his grandchildren play sports, flying with his son and keeping a perfectly manicured yard. He was very dedicated to caring for Joan until she moved to Good Samaritan Society and loved meeting up with his friends everyday at the Farmer's Daughter Cafe. He is survived by his wife, Joan Quinn of Grand Island; daughter and son-in-law, Vicky and Dave Luke of Curtis; son and daughter-in-law, Michael “Mike” and Pam Quinn of Blair; eight grandchildren, Becky and Jason Stone, BJ and Aliesha Luke, Brittany Quinn, Zac Griffin, Tim Quinn, Lyndy Quinn, Daniel Quinn and Ezekiel Quinn; six great-grandchildren, Maddie and Sami Stone, and Amy, Cameron, Tenley and Ryker Luke; two brothers, Alonzo Quinn and friend, Eileen of Hastings and Dennis Quinn of North Platte. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one granddaughter, Amy Luke. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.