Welcome to the memorial page for
Virgil E. Berney
May 6, 1924 ~ July 1, 2015 (age 91) 91 Years OldShare using:
Virgil E. Berney, 91, of Palmer died Wednesday, July 01, 2015 at the Nebraska Veteran's Home in Grand Island.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday at the United Methodist Church in Palmer. Reverend Martin Leeper will officiate. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. in Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach with military honors by Burton Beyer American Legion Post #120 of Palmer.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church in Palmer.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Virgil E. Berney was born May 6, 1924 on a farm northeast of Wolbach, Nebraska, the youngest of six children of Peter and Bessie (Imus) Berney.
He attended school at Wolbach through the ninth grade, when he went to work to help support his ailing parents during the difficult years of the Depression.
He enlisted in the Army in April, 1943, serving as Tec 5 in the Army's 170th Ordnance Depot Company in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines before his discharge in November 1945. Of his 31 months of military service, 27 were spent overseas.
He was united in marriage with Jeane Borre on April 28, 1946 at Wolbach, and the couple raised five children and celebrated 60 years of marriage before her death in October 2006.
After his military service, Virgil worked as a truck driver for several years, before moving to the Glenwood neighborhood north of Palmer to farm for Fay Burke, and then for Bob Forbes.
In 1978 the Berneys moved into Palmer and Virgil became the grounds supervisor at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. He was very dedicated in his work there, and took much pride in the appearance of the grounds. Many winter nights he stayed at the Home so he could get an early start clearing the streets and parking lots.
In 1986 he was honored as the Employee of the Year of the Nebraska Department of Public Institutions. He retired in 1989, after eleven years of service at the Home.
Virgil was very active in the American Legion and 40 & 8, holding various offices over the years. He and Jeane spent many hours volunteering at the Nebraska Veterans Home, where he often called BINGO for the residents. The couple received many honors for their community volunteer work and for assistance to elderly neighbors in Palmer.
Virgil also enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards, attending American Legion conventions, and spending time with family. He was a 70-year member of American Legion Post 120 in Palmer and a member of the Palmer United Methodist Church.
In 2000, at age 76, Virgil was pleased to be awarded an honorary high school diploma from Wolbach High School, presented by his grandson David Berney, who was a graduate that year.
In September 2006 he became a resident at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, where he had spent so many years as an employee and volunteer.
As a resident he enjoyed the activities provided by staff and volunteers, and became very proficient at painting ceramics, creating many keepsakes for his family, and winning prizes at the Hall County fair for his work.
Survivors include his sons Virgil Jr. (Linda) of Plattsmouth, Bill (Mary) of Spalding and Scott (Karenia Greger) of Palmer, and daughter Diane (Larry) Paulsen of Palmer, 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Sheri and Ryan Pfeil, Angie and Gregg Owen, Crystal Berney, Brooke Berney, Ryan and Erin Paulsen, Shane Paulsen, Jared and Heather Paulsen, David and Christina Berney, Heather Berney and Taylor and Joyce Berney and 17 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Jeane; he was preceded in death by his parents; his son Terry who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969; two sisters, Lola Silk and Velda Vogt and three brothers, Charley, Leland and Russell Berney.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday at the United Methodist Church in Palmer. Reverend Martin Leeper will officiate. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. in Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach with military honors by Burton Beyer American Legion Post #120 of Palmer.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the church in Palmer.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Virgil E. Berney was born May 6, 1924 on a farm northeast of Wolbach, Nebraska, the youngest of six children of Peter and Bessie (Imus) Berney.
He attended school at Wolbach through the ninth grade, when he went to work to help support his ailing parents during the difficult years of the Depression.
He enlisted in the Army in April, 1943, serving as Tec 5 in the Army's 170th Ordnance Depot Company in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines before his discharge in November 1945. Of his 31 months of military service, 27 were spent overseas.
He was united in marriage with Jeane Borre on April 28, 1946 at Wolbach, and the couple raised five children and celebrated 60 years of marriage before her death in October 2006.
After his military service, Virgil worked as a truck driver for several years, before moving to the Glenwood neighborhood north of Palmer to farm for Fay Burke, and then for Bob Forbes.
In 1978 the Berneys moved into Palmer and Virgil became the grounds supervisor at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. He was very dedicated in his work there, and took much pride in the appearance of the grounds. Many winter nights he stayed at the Home so he could get an early start clearing the streets and parking lots.
In 1986 he was honored as the Employee of the Year of the Nebraska Department of Public Institutions. He retired in 1989, after eleven years of service at the Home.
Virgil was very active in the American Legion and 40 & 8, holding various offices over the years. He and Jeane spent many hours volunteering at the Nebraska Veterans Home, where he often called BINGO for the residents. The couple received many honors for their community volunteer work and for assistance to elderly neighbors in Palmer.
Virgil also enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards, attending American Legion conventions, and spending time with family. He was a 70-year member of American Legion Post 120 in Palmer and a member of the Palmer United Methodist Church.
In 2000, at age 76, Virgil was pleased to be awarded an honorary high school diploma from Wolbach High School, presented by his grandson David Berney, who was a graduate that year.
In September 2006 he became a resident at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, where he had spent so many years as an employee and volunteer.
As a resident he enjoyed the activities provided by staff and volunteers, and became very proficient at painting ceramics, creating many keepsakes for his family, and winning prizes at the Hall County fair for his work.
Survivors include his sons Virgil Jr. (Linda) of Plattsmouth, Bill (Mary) of Spalding and Scott (Karenia Greger) of Palmer, and daughter Diane (Larry) Paulsen of Palmer, 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Sheri and Ryan Pfeil, Angie and Gregg Owen, Crystal Berney, Brooke Berney, Ryan and Erin Paulsen, Shane Paulsen, Jared and Heather Paulsen, David and Christina Berney, Heather Berney and Taylor and Joyce Berney and 17 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Jeane; he was preceded in death by his parents; his son Terry who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969; two sisters, Lola Silk and Velda Vogt and three brothers, Charley, Leland and Russell Berney.
A TRIBUTE AND THANK YOU TO OUR AGING VETERANS DEDICATED TO VETERANS OF WWII & THE VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR WHO HELPED TO PRESERVE THAT VICTORY FINALLY, A LONG OVERDUE THANK-YOU TO VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
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