#1 Printed in the July 17, 1952 Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska

Herman Youth, 20, Dies of Cancer

Lonnie Gene McVeigh, son of Goldy and Raymond McVeigh, was born January 31, 1932 at Spaulding, Nebraska and passed away Monday morning, July 14, 1952 at the Memorial Hospital in New York City, age 20 years, 5 months and 14 days.

He attended Herman Public School and graduated with the class of 1950. In 1950 and ’51 he attended Dana College at Blair and the State University at Lincoln. In the fall of ’51 he became ill with cancer and from that time had been through much suffering. He had been in the Clarkson Hospital several times during the winter and his parents took him to the Memorial Hospital in New York City Sunday, July 6.

The Rosary was recited at the McVeigh home Wednesday evening. Funeral services will be held at the Catholic Church in Tekamah this (Thursday) morning and in Spaulding, Nebraska with burial in the Spaulding Cemetery.

Father Bohrer will have charge of the services. The Truhlsen Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

He leaves his parents, two sisters, Beverly and Janet, and one brother, Jimmie.

#2 Printed in the July 17, 1952 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Youth Loses Fight to Live.

“Pidge” McVeigh, 20, Herman Athlete, Dies; Catholic Rites

Lonnie Gene (Pidge) McVeigh, 20, who for three years starred as a Herman High School athlete, has lost his biggest “game”—a gallant fight to live.

Pidge, victim of cancer, died Monday in a New York hospital. In critical condition, he had been flown to New York by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond McVeigh, in a desperate 1,000 to 1 gamble that there might be some sort of cure for his illness.

But the gamble didn’t work. His grief-stricken parents returned by air Monday night, and the body of their son was flown home the following day to be sent to Truhlsen Funeral Home in Herman.

The rosary was recited for the youth last evening at the McVeigh home in Herman. The funeral Mass is being said this morning (Thursday) at 9 o’clock at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Tekamah. The Rev. William Borer is officiating, and the Rev. Edward C. O’Donnell of St. Francis Borgia Church of Blair will be in the sanctuary. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery in Spaulding, Nebr.

Young McVeigh starred, as a basketball player, for Herman High’s Cardinals in 1948, 1949 and 1950, being graduated the latter year. He became seriously ill last January and was hospitalized. His parents took him to New York July 6.

Surviving him are his parents; also two sisters and a brother, Beverly, and James and Janet, who are twins; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Sparks of Macy, Nebr., and Arthur McVeigh of Oregon.

#3 Printed in the July 24, 1952 Pilot-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank relatives and friends who so kindly offered their services and especially for Mass offerings, prayers, sympathy cards and flowers; and also those who so generously opened their homes to out-of-town relatives. Your kindnesses are sincerely appreciated and will never be forgotten.

--Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Mac Veigh and family; --Mr. and Mrs. George Sparks and family; --Arthur Mac Veigh and family

FindaGrave memorial 173161772

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~