John R. Kavanagh Jr.

John R. Kavanagh, Jr., 66, of Beatrice, died at the VA Medical Center in Omaha on Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2014. He was born on March 11, 1947 at Long Beach, Calif. and graduated from Madison High School in San Diego in 1964.

John joined the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Vietnam. He was involved in the Tet Offensive and Battle of Khe Sanh. After his discharge, he worked in the construction and building business until moving to Beatrice. John was on the refurbishing crew at the Nebraska State Capitol. He worked construction throughout the Midwest and then at Lincoln Industries until his retirement in 2010. He was married to Cynthia Henrichs on July 30, 2000 in Beatrice. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and Bitting-Norman Post #27, both of Beatrice. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren, his dogs and horses, fishing, camping, exercise, and body surfing.

Survivors include his wife, Cynthia of Beatrice; son, Michael Kavanagh and wife Michelle of Lincoln; daughter, Kristi Kavanagh of Paso Robles, Calf.; four step-children, Rachel Votta and her fiancé Eric Kohmetscher of Lincoln, Kris Millikan and wife Sarah, Alicia Oldham and husband Tom and Alex Millikan all of Omaha; five grandchildren, Dominique and Reese Kavanagh, Lucy Millikan, Brooklyn and Keaton Oldham; his parents, John and Norma Helmke Kavanagh, Sr.; two brothers, James Kavanagh and Robin and Joseph Kavanagh all of San Diego, Calf.; sister, Kathryn Kavanagh of Beatrice; parents-in-law, Robert and Kay Henrichs of Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 at St. John Lutheran Church of Beatrice, with Pastor Kelley Pedersen officiating. The body has been cremated. Private inurnment of the cremains will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. There will be no viewing.

A Memorial has been established to the Beatrice Humane Society and the American Cancer Society.

A register book will be available for signatures at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice from 8 a.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday and at the church one hour preceding the services. A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at www.foxfuneralhome.net. Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice in charge of arrangements.