1.Dr. JamesJosephLeahy, born February 27, 1920 in Butternut, Ashland County, WI; died February 19, 1978 in Omaha, Douglas County, NE. He was the son of 2. Dr. JustinDavidLeahy and 3. AnnaCeciliaSpellman. He married (1) KatherineAlvinaLillestrand August 10, 1946 in Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. She was born February 24, 1921 in Mound, Hennepin County, MN, and died May 28, 1987 in Omaha, Douglas County, NE. She was the daughter of Karl Bernard Lillestrand and Elizabeth Johanna Christensen.
Notes for Dr. James Joseph Leahy:
Personal knowledge and Omaha World Herald obit.
The James Leahy I remember was a passionate man with many diverse interests. In football, he liked the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears and, of course, the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame. And he disliked teams with an equal intensity, such as the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. We had a natural rivalry with the Cornhuskers. He always told me I didn't know any better. And I always rooted against the Bears just to give him a hard time. It was more fun to watch a game when we didn't root for the same teams.
When I was in high school, Dad and I, and Gramma Vant, when she was in town, would often share a late night cup of coffee and maybe something to go with it (especially when Gramma Vant was in town). We would half-listen to the news and Johnny Carson, and talk. The one thing I learned from him is that nothing should be taken too seriously. That philosophy probably explains why he was so gentle and compassionate. And why he could laugh at himself with such ease. And those are the qualities in him I most admire and try (yes, I do try) to emulate.
Dad said the Irish like to tease those they love. And he liked to tease all of his children and his wife and his parents and in-laws. He always did it with a twinkle in his eye. And I think he hoped we would learn to laugh at ourselves, too (--RMLeahy).
Birth Certificate for James Joseph Leahy
State of Wisconsin, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records
Registered No. 17 County of Ashland, Village of Butternut
Filed 1 MAR 1920 by A. Besse
Death Certificate for James J. Leahy
Certificate of Death No: 63538
Omaha-Douglas County Health Department Vital Statistics Section Recorded 22 FEB 1978
by W. R. Jacobson, Registrar
Cause of Death: Acute Myocardial Infarction
SSN 395-14-3861
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James J. Leahy, MD
Rite Wednesday for James Leahy
Services for Dr. James J. Leahy, an associate professor of family practice at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine will be at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday in St. Pius X Church.
Leahy, 57, of 5718 Seward St., died Sunday, following a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife, Kay; sons Kevin, of Oahu, Hawaii, James, Robert and David; daughters, Mrs. David Filipi, Janet and Marcia; and mother, Mrs. Ann Leahy, all of Omaha.
The rosary will be recited at 7:30 tonight at Hoffman Mortuary. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
--from Omaha World Herald, 21 FEB 1978
[from papers saved by Mrs. Anne C. Leahy,
courtesy of Jody (Leahy) Filipi]
* * *
Former Area Physician Died
We just received word that a well-known former resident of this area passed away on February 19, 1978.
Dr. James J. Leahy, also known to many as "Doctor Jim," died suddenly on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. He suffered a sudden heart attack at his home and was rushed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he died.
A rosary service was held on the evening of February 21. Dr. Leahy was buried on February 22 in the Calvary Cemetery of Omaha.
Dr. Leahy was born in Butternut, Wisonsin on February 27, 1920. He attended St. Anthony's grade school in Park Falls and was a graduate of St. Thomas Military Academy and Notre Dame University. He received his MD training at Northwestern in Chicago. During World War II, he served for two years in the Army Medical Corps, first at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and later in Japan. While in Texas, he married Kay Lillestrand of Minneapolis on August 10, 1945. Following his discharge, Dr. and Mrs. Leahy moved to Park Falls where he practiced for 12 years with his father, Dr. Justin D. Leahy. In 1959, they moved to Omaha, where he was involved in private practice until 1975. He then took a position with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of Family Practice.
Surviving are his wife, Kay; children: James, Joan (Mrs. David Filipi), Kevin, Robert, David, Janet and Marcia, all of Omaha; two grandchildren, Paul and Scott; his mother, Ann (sic) C. Leahy and brother, J. Robert Leahy.
Dr. Leahy was a member of the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Medical Association, the Nebraska Medical Association, the Greater Omaha Medical Society and the Knights of Columbus-Park Falls Council.
--from the Park Falls Herald, March 1978
(courtesy of Jody Leahy Filipi, from the papers of Anne C. Leahy)
* * *
Leahy--James J. MD, age 57 yrs. of 5718 Seward. Survivors, wife, Kay, sons, Kevin of Oahu, Hawaii, James, Robert and David. Daughters, Mrs. David (Joan) Filipi, Janet and Marcia, all Omaha. 2 grandchildren, mother, Mrs. Anne Leahy, Omaha. Brother, J. Robert of Rice Lake, Wisc.
Mass St. Pius the Tenth Church, Wed. 11:15 AM. Interment Calvary. Memorials acceptable to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, c/o Dr. Rigby.
Leo A. Hoffmann
24th and Dodge St. 342-3900
--from the Omaha World Herald 22 Feb 1978
(courtesy of Jody Leahy Filipi, from the papers of Anne C. Leahy)
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Academic, Military and Professional Information
-Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Junior Division, St. Thomas Military Academy, Cadet Captain, 11 OCT 1937
-Graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy, St. Paul, MN 4 June 1938 (diploma)
-Graduated from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, 10 MAY 1942 (diploma)
-Reserve Corps of the Army, 12 MAy 1943 (rank: private; serial # 16172843
Report of Separation, 12 JUN 1945 (Good Conduct Medal, 28 MAR 1945; rank: private first class: reason for separation: to accept commission as 1st Lt MC AUS)
-Graduated from Northwestern University--Evanston-Chicago (IL) School of Medicine, Bachelor of Medicine 13 June 1945 (diploma)
-Graduated from Northwestern University--Evanston-Chicago (IL) School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine 17 March 1946 (diploma)
Entry into active duty, 25 APR 1946, Medical Officer, General Duty 3100 (rank: captain; serial # 0478647)
-5th Basic Course for Medical Department Officers (15 JUL 1946-7 SEPT 1946: # 2237)
-Internship, Milwaukee County Hospital (Milwaulkee, WI) completed 31 MAR 1946 (letter)
-Orders to report to Madigan General Hospital, Tacoma, WA on 15 APR 1946 received 16 APR 1946, temporary 10-week assignment.
-Service outside the US: 10 OCT 1946-12 DEC 1947 (82nd Field Artillery Battalion, Sitama, Gumma, Japan: Diagnosed and treated all types of medical and surgical patients, conducted routine sick calls and physical inspections of military personnel. Maintained all pertinent medical administrative records. Also served as division medical inspector of Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, Japan.)
Promotion to Captain: 28 MAY 1947
-Report of Separation, 26 DEC 1947, Camp Stoneman, CA (decorations: World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal--Japan; note: other miscellaneous military papers in possession of Jody (Leahy) Filipi, oldest daughter of James J. Leahy).
-Certification of Licensure, State of Wisconsin, 26 JAN 1948 (#101220) Written Board Exam Score Average: 85.8%
-Certificate of Licensure, State of Wisconsin, 24 AUG 1959 (#13438)
-Certificate of Ability, State of Nebraska, 1 Sept 1959 (#4850)
-Nebraska Medical License, 1 Sept 1959 (#10,431)
Honorable Discharge, Reserve Commissioned Officer of the Army, 9 FEB 1962 (rank: major)
-He practiced medicine in Park Falls, WI and in Omaha, NE
-Charter Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians, Sept 1972
-Member American Society of Contemporary Medicine and Surgery, 30 June 1975
-Served as a professor on the faculty of the University of Nebraska School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 1975-1978.
(Note: diplomas and certificates in possession of Jody (Leahy) Filipi, oldest daughter of James J. Leahy.)
Notes for Katherine Alvina Lillestrand:
Personal knowledge and Omaha World Herald obit.
The Kay Leahy I remember was hard working and willing to help anyone and everyone in any way she could. She worried about others far more than she worried about herself. One of the projects she became quite involved in after her husband died was the funeral support services of her church. At the time of her husband's death, the church did not provide as much support to the families as it does now, and I think my mother would be proud of the difference she made in that area of the church's ministry.
In the kitchen, Mom was a gadget person. I once told her I was going to invent the electric fork for her, which I thought was hysterically funny at the time (I think I was a freshman in High School--so I was pretty impressed with everything I did then). She didn't think much of that idea, but she did like her other toys: She had special dishes for every conceivable kind of food preparation, and mechanical devices to help with the same. There was the noodle maker and salad spinner, the electric juicer, the dehydrater, the magic meal sealer.... And all of the toys were marvelous to behold, but they sure took up a lot of room in the kitchen. When I came home from college on breaks, the counters would be covered with the contraptions. And, I would make the mistake of putting them away. The next morning, she needed almost everything brought back out for some project or another. What she needed was a bigger kitchen. If she had had the space, I think my mother would have gladly catered any function anyone wanted to put on. Mom's forte was dessert: cookies, cakes and pastries (we won't mention the prune torte, as every cook is entitled to a few items that don't quite make the grade...).
The one thing I would have wished for Mom was more forgiving sense of self. She didn't share my dad's ability to find humor in the things she did. That may be my remembering her more after Dad died that before. I don't think she was ever really happy after Dad died (--RMLeahy).
Christened Alvina Katerhine. Graduated from nursing school with that name. New birth certificate issued with name Katherine Alvina.
Birth Certificate for Katherine Alvina Lillestrand
Mound Village, Hennepin County, State of Minnesota
Births for 1921 Recorded 2 MAR 1921 by William McFarland
*Note: Birth Record amended 29 JULY 1946 by R, L, Brown, Deputy Clerk, District Court, 4th Judicial District, Hennepin County, MN
(originally named Alvina Katherine; known thereafter as Kay A.)
ssn: 476-10-5967
Academic, Military and Professional information
-Member National Honor Society, South High School, Minneapolis (MN) Public Schools, 26 MAY 1937
-Graduated from South High School, Minneapolis (MN) Public Schools, 17 JUN 1938 (diploma)
-Graduated from St. Andrew's Hospital School of Nursing, 1943
-Minnesota Board of Nursing, Registered Nurse, 9 DEC 1943 (#21484; issued to Katherine Alvina Lillestrand)
-American Red Cross Nursing Service, American Red Cross Nurse, 7 FEB 1944 (#148,830; issued to Alvina Katherine Lillestrand)
-Served in ETO as Army nurse: England and France: 78th Field Hospital 22 MAR 1945-23 JUL 1946 (EAME Theatre Ribbon, 2 Oversears Service Bars, Victory Medal; rank 2nd Lt, 22 MAR 1945; promoted to 1st Lt., 4 JUN 1946 (note, papers in the possession of Jody Leahy Filipi, oldest daughter of Kay Leahy, show that there was some confusion in the promotion process with duplicate promotion orders given 27 JUN 1946).
-Separation Record, Army of the United States (serial # N 794 979; rank 1st Lt.)
-Received a BS in nursing from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL.
-Attended the University of MN.
-Attended College of St. Mary's, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 1962-1964.
-State of Nebraska, Professional Registered Nurse, 7 NOV 1978 (#33944)
-Completed course work through St. Anthony's in Minneapolis, MN
____________________
Katherine A. "Kay" Leahy
LEAHY--Katherine A. (Kay), age 66 years. Widow of the late Dr. James J. Leahy. Survived by her daughters, Mrs. David (Jody) Filipi, Mrs. David (Janet) Janda, Marcia Leahy, all of Omaha; sons, Dr. James D., Overland Park, KS, Lt. Commander Kevin B., San Diego, CA, Dr, Robert M., Levelland, TX, David S., Omaha; mother, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Vant; sister, Mrs. Marshall (Betty) Daniels, Mound, MN; 6 grandchildren.
Services, Mon, 8:00 AM, Westside Chapel to St. Pius X Church at 8:30 AM. Interment, Calvary Cemetery. Rosary Sun, 8 PM, Westside Chapel. Memorials to St. Pius X Church, for Kay Leahy, no flowers.
John A. Gentleman
Westside Chapel
72nd & Western Avenue, 391-1664
--from Omaha World Herald, 31 MAY 1987
[courtesy of Jody (Leahy) Filipi.
____________________
Marriage Notes for James Leahy and Katherine Lillestrand:
Marriage License # 172730 State of Texas, County of Bexar
Applied for 8 AUG 1946; Recorded 13 AUG 1946
Certificate of Marriage from U S Army
(no numbers to identify it)
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Lillestrand-Leahy
The Post Chapel at Fort Sam Houston, Texas was the scene of a very pretty wedding Saturday, August 10 [1946], when at 10:30 Major McEnirny, Chaplain of the Medical Corps of the 9th Army, read the rites in which Miss Katherine Lillestrand, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. J. M. (sic, I. G.) Vant of Minneapolis, became the bride of Lt. James J. Leahy, son of Sr. and Mrs. J. D. Leahy of this city.
To the strains of the Lohengrin Wedding March the bride approached the altar on the arm of Mr. Vant who gave her in marriage. She was attired in an Autralian green suit with a hat and veil to match and her flowers were white orchids.
Mrs. I. J. Laconik served as the matron of honor for the bride. She was attired in a deep purple suit with a hat to match and wore lavender orchids.
Lt. Leahy selected Lt. I. J. Laconik, a classmate at Notre Dame, as his best man and guests were ushered to their places by Lts. George Porter and Thomas Boldt.
On the main altar, before which the double ring service was read, were large vases of white asters, white gladioli, and tuberoses and huge baskets of the same flowers were on either side of the chancel rail. During the ceremony, a soloist sang Schubert's "Ave Maria" and the organ played softly throughout the service.
After the ceremony, the bridal party proceeded to the Mangor Hotel, where the young couple received the congratulations of their friends. At noon, a wedding breakfast was served to 20 guests in the Rennaissance Room. The breakfast table was beautifully decorated with white flowers, huge silver candelabra with white tapers and as a cenbterpiece, a large wedding cake.
Mrs. Leahy is a graduate of St. Andrew's Hospital, Minneapolis, and spent a year and a half at Wesley Hospital in Chicago before entering service as a Lieutenant in the ANC. She was in service sixteen months, fourteen of which were spent overseas, and returned from France the latter part of June, when she received her discharge.
Lt. leahy is a graduate of St. Thomas Military Academy, receiving his bachelor of Science degree from Notre Dame and his Doctor of Medicine from Northwestern. He is now stationed temporarily at Brooks General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, and the young couple will reside in San Antonio until Lt. Leahy receives a new assignment.
--From the Park Falls Herald, 10 AUG 1946
(courtesy of Jody Leahy Filipi, from the papers of Anne C. Leahy)
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