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Terence Patrick Fitzgerald, age 82 of Omaha, was born in Washington County on August 2, 1935. He is a fourth generation of farmers in Washington County, the descendent of one of the original homesteaders in the county. His large family of nine siblings lost their father at a young age. From the age of 14, he took on the task of running the family farm and helping raise his younger brothers and sisters. He attended Creighton Preparatory School, and graduated in 1953.

He worked as an electrician for Union Pacific Railroad, and later for Omaha Public Power District as a line crew foreman. He retired from OPPD after 42 years of honorable service. He was one of the heroes that stayed out in the worst of weather to restore electricity to homes that needed it to keep their lights on and furnaces running in the cold of winter.

While working for OPPD, he continued to farm. Often, working well into the night on week nights after he returned from his day job with OPPD, he diligently went about raising crops, cutting hay, keeping livestock, and everything else that is required to run a farm. He did all of this with his faithful wife Marty, raising four great children. All four children finished their college education, and two served proudly in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was a lifelong resident of Washington County, living less than a mile from the house he was born in. His only time away from Nebraska was when the U.S. Army called his number to serve. He was honorably discharged after serving his time as a machine gunner in the 25th Infantry Division, and returned home.

Hard work, friendliness, compassion, and family were the central tenets of his life. There are countless friends and neighbors of his that will affirm this. He was never too busy to offer a friendly smile and chat with a friend. He never refused to help anyone in need. His humble and gracious attitude toward life never wavered. Not once in his life can anyone recall a harsh word spoken about another. Even as his own health deteriorated, his concern was not about himself, but on all of the people he loved.

He enjoyed golf, and until his health failed, he would get to the greens twice a week. He rarely missed a Husker football game, and had cheered them faithfully for decades. With his wife, they traveled to every conceivable corner of the United States, coming very close to having visited all 50 states at one point. They have traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, South America and the Caribbean.

Terence is preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Fitzgerald, brothers, John (Margaret), Michael, Thomas and Daniel, sister, Mary (Francis) Dillon.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marty Fitzgerald, son, Terry Fitzgerald of Fort Calhoun, daughters, Tammy (Chris) Klein of Sioux Falls, S.D., Tanya (Tony) Heiniger of Fort Calhoun, son, Travis (Jen) Fitzgerald of Omaha, sisters, Sr. Sheila Fitzgerald of Madison, Wis., Patricia Miller of Gretna, Peg (Jim) Townley of Omaha, sister-in-law, Linda Fitzgerald of Omaha, five grandchildren who are proud to call him Grandpa, Tyler, Travis and Hannah Fitzgerald, Rachel and Ryan Klein, many nieces and nephews.

Visitaion: 5 to 8 p.mm Thursday, Nov. 16 with a Sharing at 7:30 p.m. at Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home, Fort Calhoun.

Funeral Service: 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17at Country Bible Church in Blair.

Interment: Fort Calhoun Cemetery. Military Honors conducted by: Fort Calhoun American Legion Post #348.

Memorials Suggested To: Country Bible Church.

#2- Published in the Omaha World Herald November 16, 2017

Fitzgerald, Terence Patrick Aug 2, 1935 - Nov 14, 2017 Age 82. Of Omaha. Born in Washington County, NE. Died in Omaha. Preceded in death by parents, John and Anna Fitzgerald; brothers: John (Margaret), Michael, Thomas and Daniel; sisters, Mary (Francis) Dillon. Survived by wife, Martha Fitzgerald, of Omaha; son, Terry Fitzgerald, of Fort Calhoun, NE; daughters, Tammy (Chris) Klein. of Sioux Falls, SD; Tanya (Tony) Heiniger, of Fort Calhoun, NE; son, Travis (Jen) Fitzgerald. of Omaha; sisters: Sr. Sheila Fitzgerald, of Madison, WI; Patricia Miller, of Gretna, NE; Peg (Jim) Townley, of Omaha; sister-in-law, Linda Fitzgerald, of Omaha; grandchildren: Tyler, Travis, and Hannah Fitzgerald, Rachel and Ryan Klein; many nieces and nephews. VISITATION: 5-8pm Thursday, November 16, 2017, with a Sharing at 7:30pm, at Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home. FUNERAL SERVICE: 2pm Friday, November 17, 2017, at Country Bible Church in Blair, NE. Interment: Fort Calhoun Cemetery. Military Honors conducted by: Fort Calhoun American Legion Post #348. Memorials suggested to Country Bible Church. SIEVERS-SPRICK FUNERAL HOME Ft. Calhoun, NE 402-468-5678

#3 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Terence Patrick Fitzgerald

Born August 2, 1935 Washington County, NE; Died November 14, 2017 Omaha, Nebraska

Visitation 5:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 16, 2017 with a Sharing at 7:30 p.m. Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home.

Funeral Service 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2017 Country Bible Church. Officiant: Pastor Glen Hudson. Music: Amazing Grace, by Travis and Hannah Fitzgerald; How Great Thou Art, by Jean Johnson; In the Garden

Pallbearers: Scott McNew, Tony Heiniger, Rogert Fitzgerald, Chris Klein, Bill Fitzgerald, Tom Gepson

Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Townley and Nieces and Nephews

Interment, Fort Calhoun Cemetery; Military Honors conducted by Fort Calhoun American Legion Post #348

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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