Thomas P. "Tom" McCarthy

Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas P. “Tom” McCarthy, age 91, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk.  Reverend Gregory Carl will be the celebrant.  Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Army National Guard Honor Guard, VFW Post 1644 and American Legion Post 16.  Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, with a 7:00 p.m., Vigil Service at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  The Mass will be livestreamed on the funeral home's website. Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Tom passed away on April 1, 2023 with his family beside him.

Thomas Patrick McCarthy was born at Mrs. Murphy's Maternity Home in Greeley, NE. on October 10, 1931.  He graduated Valedictorian May 1948 from Sacred Heart High School in Greeley, NE.

Tom graduated from University of NE Lincoln in January of 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

On March 1, 1953, Tom entered the US Army as a 2nd Lt in the Corp of Engineers (ROTC Program for four years in college) and served until Feb 28, 1955. Served 1 year in Korea just after the Armistice was signed, still listed as combat zone. Served 1 month as Platoon Leader, 11 months as Company Commander, Company C, 841st Engineer Aviation Battalion, Army Unit attached to the Air Force, building concrete air strip at K-8 Air Force Base, in Kunson, Korea.

Worked as an engineer with the NE Dept. of Roads from May 1955 until December 1996. Completed several construction projects and also as assistant bridge engineer, Asst. construction engineer, state traffic engineer, and finally the District Engineer of District 3 in Northeast Nebraska. After retiring in 1996, he worked part time for FEMA and supervised projects from 1997-2010.

Tom married Doris Louise Norman on December 29, 1962 at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Lincoln. They resided in Lincoln till 1972, then they moved to Norfolk, NE. where he worked as the District Engineer for the Nebraska Department of Roads for Northeast Nebraska. He had been an engineer for 46 years. Tom and Doris have four children Matt, Ted, Tim and Phil.

Tom lost his wife Doris of 28 years to cancer January 18, 1990.

Tom was a member of the Sacred Heart/St. Mary's Parish, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, past president of the Divorced, Widowed and Separated and served as a Norfolk City Council member. He was also a member of the Sacred Heart/St. Mary's Parish Council and member/past president of the Norfolk Catholic Booster Club and active in Cub Scouts which Doris and his sons were heavily involved in.

Tom enjoyed family time including camping, visiting state parks, and stopping to read every roadside historical marker he came across. His hobby was writing poetry and developing math problems and ways to solve them...For those in the family ... remember the "Power of 9".

Tom is survived by his sons Matt (Kim) McCarthy of Stanton, Tim McCarthy and (late Jane McCarthy) of Lincoln, Ted (Becky) McCarthy of Norfolk and Phil McCarthy of New York; 13 grandchildren, Nicole (Dillion) Martin, Michael (Megan) McCarthy, Eric (Myriah) McCarthy , Connor McCarthy (Jessa Backer), Aaron (Kristen) McCarthy, Kelly McCarthy, Gianna McCarthy, Nicholas (Madisen) McCarthy, Luke McCarthy, Andrew (Brenda) McCarthy, Garret McCarthy, Riley McCarthy April (Josh) Danon and 15 great-grandchildren Edison, Dutton, Scarlet, Adalee, Theo, Evelyn, Maisie, Emmanuel, Parker, Piper, Poppy, Paislee, Calvin, Maddaluna, Ava and Tom's brother Patrick (Mary) McCarthy of Wisconsin.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Edward McCarthy and Catherine Agnes McCarthy, sisters Mary Madeline Ryan, Catherine O'Callaghan, Joan Glaser, Claire Volf, Sister Regina McCarthy, and bother Edward McCarthy and several nieces and nephews.

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