William George Blackburn, 81, of Grand Island, died Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Blackburn was born on Sept. 28, 1923 at Colby, Kansas, to Albert F. and Edith (Forbes) Blackburn.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife June of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary Blackburn of Provo, Utah, and Tom Blackburn of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. One daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and John Phelps of Mankato, Minnesota; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Barbara and Dean Kratz of Omaha and Edith Linder of Broken Bow.
Other survivors include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law, Jack 'Bud' and wife Joanne of Grand Island and Richard Rasmussen of Grand Island and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Wednesday commemorates the 60th anniversary of when he was seriously injured while flying a bombing mission in Europe.
He received his education in Grand Island and attended the University of Nebraska. After his war service, he graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1949 where he was on the Colorado Law Review. He was a member of the Hall County Nebraska Bar Association for over 50 years.
He was elected and served as Hall County attorney in the early 1950's and then became General Council for the G. W. Martin Co. and later served on its Board of Directors. He became a member of the Cunningham and Blackburn Law Firm in 1964, working there until the time of his death. He had been serving as a board member for Five Points Bank.
He was past president of YMCA and JayCees, Community Chest, past Director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor Committee. He served on the Committee on Inquiry for the Supreme Court of Nebraska, and was an active member in the Grand Island Area Council for International Visitors and the Dept. of States International Visitor Program.
He was an Eagle Scout and had been active in that program. He was a member of the Saddle Club, VFW, American Legion and was a member of and former president of Riverside Country Club. Also was a member of the Red Cross Seven Gallon Blood Donor Club.
Having lettered in football, basketball and track in high school, Bill was an avid sports fan. He was aware of high school sports activities, and missed only two Nebraska football home games since 1950, going to many of the away games also. He followed all Nebraska sports (including the women's) on radio and TV.
In his younger years he was an active bowler and in later years loved golf. Bill enjoyed the years of Monday night bridge games in Hastings with good friends. He liked to travel, a favorite trip was to Hungary where he revisited the site of the Russian Hospital where he had spent two months during WWII. He loved music, especially jazz and enjoyed listening to music given to him by his grandchildren at Mayos his last days. Bill was a loving and caring family man and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Byron and Albert and two sisters, Helen McElroy and Lucille Fagin.
Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, or the donor's choice
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Blackburn was born on Sept. 28, 1923 at Colby, Kansas, to Albert F. and Edith (Forbes) Blackburn.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife June of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary Blackburn of Provo, Utah, and Tom Blackburn of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. One daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and John Phelps of Mankato, Minnesota; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Barbara and Dean Kratz of Omaha and Edith Linder of Broken Bow.
Other survivors include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law, Jack 'Bud' and wife Joanne of Grand Island and Richard Rasmussen of Grand Island and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Wednesday commemorates the 60th anniversary of when he was seriously injured while flying a bombing mission in Europe.
He received his education in Grand Island and attended the University of Nebraska. After his war service, he graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1949 where he was on the Colorado Law Review. He was a member of the Hall County Nebraska Bar Association for over 50 years.
He was elected and served as Hall County attorney in the early 1950's and then became General Council for the G. W. Martin Co. and later served on its Board of Directors. He became a member of the Cunningham and Blackburn Law Firm in 1964, working there until the time of his death. He had been serving as a board member for Five Points Bank.
He was past president of YMCA and JayCees, Community Chest, past Director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor Committee. He served on the Committee on Inquiry for the Supreme Court of Nebraska, and was an active member in the Grand Island Area Council for International Visitors and the Dept. of States International Visitor Program.
He was an Eagle Scout and had been active in that program. He was a member of the Saddle Club, VFW, American Legion and was a member of and former president of Riverside Country Club. Also was a member of the Red Cross Seven Gallon Blood Donor Club.
Having lettered in football, basketball and track in high school, Bill was an avid sports fan. He was aware of high school sports activities, and missed only two Nebraska football home games since 1950, going to many of the away games also. He followed all Nebraska sports (including the women's) on radio and TV.
In his younger years he was an active bowler and in later years loved golf. Bill enjoyed the years of Monday night bridge games in Hastings with good friends. He liked to travel, a favorite trip was to Hungary where he revisited the site of the Russian Hospital where he had spent two months during WWII. He loved music, especially jazz and enjoyed listening to music given to him by his grandchildren at Mayos his last days. Bill was a loving and caring family man and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Byron and Albert and two sisters, Helen McElroy and Lucille Fagin.
Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, or the donor's choice
William George Blackburn, 81, of Grand Island, died Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Blackburn was born on Sept. 28, 1923 at Colby, Kansas, to Albert F. and Edith (Forbes) Blackburn.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife June of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary Blackburn of Provo, Utah, and Tom Blackburn of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. One daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and John Phelps of Mankato, Minnesota; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Barbara and Dean Kratz of Omaha and Edith Linder of Broken Bow.
Other survivors include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law, Jack 'Bud' and wife Joanne of Grand Island and Richard Rasmussen of Grand Island and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Wednesday commemorates the 60th anniversary of when he was seriously injured while flying a bombing mission in Europe.
He received his education in Grand Island and attended the University of Nebraska. After his war service, he graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1949 where he was on the Colorado Law Review. He was a member of the Hall County Nebraska Bar Association for over 50 years.
He was elected and served as Hall County attorney in the early 1950's and then became General Council for the G. W. Martin Co. and later served on its Board of Directors. He became a member of the Cunningham and Blackburn Law Firm in 1964, working there until the time of his death. He had been serving as a board member for Five Points Bank.
He was past president of YMCA and JayCees, Community Chest, past Director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor Committee. He served on the Committee on Inquiry for the Supreme Court of Nebraska, and was an active member in the Grand Island Area Council for International Visitors and the Dept. of States International Visitor Program.
He was an Eagle Scout and had been active in that program. He was a member of the Saddle Club, VFW, American Legion and was a member of and former president of Riverside Country Club. Also was a member of the Red Cross Seven Gallon Blood Donor Club.
Having lettered in football, basketball and track in high school, Bill was an avid sports fan. He was aware of high school sports activities, and missed only two Nebraska football home games since 1950, going to many of the away games also. He followed all Nebraska sports (including the women's) on radio and TV.
In his younger years he was an active bowler and in later years loved golf. Bill enjoyed the years of Monday night bridge games in Hastings with good friends. He liked to travel, a favorite trip was to Hungary where he revisited the site of the Russian Hospital where he had spent two months during WWII. He loved music, especially jazz and enjoyed listening to music given to him by his grandchildren at Mayos his last days. Bill was a loving and caring family man and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Byron and Albert and two sisters, Helen McElroy and Lucille Fagin.
Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, or the donor's choice
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
Mr. Blackburn was born on Sept. 28, 1923 at Colby, Kansas, to Albert F. and Edith (Forbes) Blackburn.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife June of Grand Island; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary Blackburn of Provo, Utah, and Tom Blackburn of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. One daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and John Phelps of Mankato, Minnesota; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Barbara and Dean Kratz of Omaha and Edith Linder of Broken Bow.
Other survivors include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers-in-law, Jack 'Bud' and wife Joanne of Grand Island and Richard Rasmussen of Grand Island and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Wednesday commemorates the 60th anniversary of when he was seriously injured while flying a bombing mission in Europe.
He received his education in Grand Island and attended the University of Nebraska. After his war service, he graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1949 where he was on the Colorado Law Review. He was a member of the Hall County Nebraska Bar Association for over 50 years.
He was elected and served as Hall County attorney in the early 1950's and then became General Council for the G. W. Martin Co. and later served on its Board of Directors. He became a member of the Cunningham and Blackburn Law Firm in 1964, working there until the time of his death. He had been serving as a board member for Five Points Bank.
He was past president of YMCA and JayCees, Community Chest, past Director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Grand Island Senior High School Hall of Honor Committee. He served on the Committee on Inquiry for the Supreme Court of Nebraska, and was an active member in the Grand Island Area Council for International Visitors and the Dept. of States International Visitor Program.
He was an Eagle Scout and had been active in that program. He was a member of the Saddle Club, VFW, American Legion and was a member of and former president of Riverside Country Club. Also was a member of the Red Cross Seven Gallon Blood Donor Club.
Having lettered in football, basketball and track in high school, Bill was an avid sports fan. He was aware of high school sports activities, and missed only two Nebraska football home games since 1950, going to many of the away games also. He followed all Nebraska sports (including the women's) on radio and TV.
In his younger years he was an active bowler and in later years loved golf. Bill enjoyed the years of Monday night bridge games in Hastings with good friends. He liked to travel, a favorite trip was to Hungary where he revisited the site of the Russian Hospital where he had spent two months during WWII. He loved music, especially jazz and enjoyed listening to music given to him by his grandchildren at Mayos his last days. Bill was a loving and caring family man and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Byron and Albert and two sisters, Helen McElroy and Lucille Fagin.
Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, or the donor's choice
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