1924
William
2022
William H. Finnegan
May 27, 1924 — January 7, 2022
Master Gunnery Sergeant William H. Finnegan(ret), age 97, passed in his home on Friday, 1/7/2022. He is survived by three children, Peggy, Barbara and John. Also four grandchildren, Bridgett, Julia, Sean and Ryan and five great grandchildren Maddie, Ami, Eila, Eliza and Emory.
Bill began his military career in April of 1942, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17. In June of 1942 he was in the first wave of Marines to land on Guadalcanal. There he had his first taste of combat. Next stop was Cape Glouschester in New Guinea, and from there to the landing on the island of Pelilieu. In that battle, everyone in his company was killed but for him and his commanding officer.
His next combat experience occurred in Korea in 1950 when he was in the landing at Inchon, the battle for Seoul, and the battle of the Chosin reservoir.
After Korea Bill returned home and married his sweetheart Patricia Norton, with whom he had his three children. He retired from the Marines in 1964, went to school on the GI bill and obtained a Masters degree in communications and speech. He worked a short time as a reporter for the Kansas City Star, then moved on to his second career in editing military publications.
He retired from his civil service job in 1985 and had a wonderful ten years with Patricia also retired. In 1995, however Patricia was stricken by Dementia, and underwent an eight year period of decline until her death in 2002. He spent those years caring for her, with the help of his children. They were married for 51 years.
After 2002, he maintained an independent lifestyle as patriarch of his extended family, until 2018 when he had a fall at home which required extended care. From that time, his children maintained him in his home with daily visits from at least one of his children, until his death.
He was greatly admired and loved by all who knew him and will be remembered by all of us as a good man who helped anyone in need.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 31st at 2:30pm at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Bill began his military career in April of 1942, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17. In June of 1942 he was in the first wave of Marines to land on Guadalcanal. There he had his first taste of combat. Next stop was Cape Glouschester in New Guinea, and from there to the landing on the island of Pelilieu. In that battle, everyone in his company was killed but for him and his commanding officer.
His next combat experience occurred in Korea in 1950 when he was in the landing at Inchon, the battle for Seoul, and the battle of the Chosin reservoir.
After Korea Bill returned home and married his sweetheart Patricia Norton, with whom he had his three children. He retired from the Marines in 1964, went to school on the GI bill and obtained a Masters degree in communications and speech. He worked a short time as a reporter for the Kansas City Star, then moved on to his second career in editing military publications.
He retired from his civil service job in 1985 and had a wonderful ten years with Patricia also retired. In 1995, however Patricia was stricken by Dementia, and underwent an eight year period of decline until her death in 2002. He spent those years caring for her, with the help of his children. They were married for 51 years.
After 2002, he maintained an independent lifestyle as patriarch of his extended family, until 2018 when he had a fall at home which required extended care. From that time, his children maintained him in his home with daily visits from at least one of his children, until his death.
He was greatly admired and loved by all who knew him and will be remembered by all of us as a good man who helped anyone in need.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 31st at 2:30pm at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William H. Finnegan, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Service
Monday, January 31, 2022
Starts at 2:30 pm (Central time)
Leavenworth National Cemetery
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