Joseph McCarthy

Former Gibbon resident, 95

AMMON, Idaho - Joseph McCarthy, 95, of Ammon, formerly of Gibbon, Neb., died Saturday, June 30, 2012, at his home.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon with military honors by the Nebraska National Guard in conjunction with American Legion Post 310.

There will be no visitation. O'Brien-Straatmann-Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney, Neb., is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Jan. 2, 1917, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Cornelius and Katherine McCarthy.

On Oct. 31, 1942, he married Laura Wadle in Los Angeles.

Survivors include his children, John and his wife, Barbara, of Ammon and Michael and his wife, Sandra, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and their children, Jordan and his wife, Jessica, of Omaha Neb., and Matthew and his wife, Jennifer, of Washington, D.C.; and numerous great-grandchildren.

He was accompanied in birth by his identical twin brother, Jim. The dynamic duo attended East Des Moines High School and became talented musicians playing in dance bands while still in their teens. Joe and Jim became one of six sets of identical twins that comprised The Beverly Twins Orchestra opening for such big bands as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

Joe served in World War II as a radio operator while Laura helped build B-17 bombers in Los Angeles. After the war, Joe earned his master's degree in music theory degree from the University of Colorado in August 1947 and taught marching and concert band in Boulder, Colo.

In 1951, Joseph and Laura moved to Gibbon and raised their two sons, Michael and John. Joseph was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church as choir master and lectern. Joe was also active at Holy Rosary and Christ the King churches in Idaho Falls. Joe was devoted to his faith and was a lay member of the Carmelite Order. On weekends, Joe played his saxophone and clarinet in many central Nebraska bands.

Joe, a beloved father, was a loving husband, a brother in arms, grandfather, teacher, musician, rural postal carrier and a gentleman whose wit, love and intelligence will be forever cherished by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marie, Helen and Katherine; and brothers, Ed, Willis and Jim.

Memorials are suggested to Mount Carmel Home Keens Memorial.

Visit www.osrfh.com to submit online condolences or personal reflections.