John Cecil Seery served on the USS ARIZONA from 1928 to 1929. John's battle station was on #3 turret which still shows off to the side of the Memorial. In 1929 many of the crew were transferred to the USS NEVADA which had just completed having tripod masts installed. In 1934 put USS RANGER L939 in commission at Norfolk, VA. Transferred to NAS, San Juan, PR. When war started, he went to receiving station in Miami, FL. 1945 to comm. USS FDR in Brooklyn then 8th Naval Dist. New Orleans. He retired at U. Oklahoma as Norman, OK NROTC Unit. Retired in 1948 with 20 years service as CWO2. John will be 90 years old on 25 November 1999. He is still in good health and plays golf. You can read more about John Seery in Nina Hart's book "Arizona's Heart Beats".
Obituary
Publication Date: 05/13/05
© The Grand Island Independent
John Cecil Seery, 95, of Grand Island died Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at the Grand Island Veterans Home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. Tom Ryan officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island, with a rosary recited at 8.
Mr. Seery was born on Nov. 25, 1909, at Carthage, Mo., to John and Laura (Shy) Seery.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Mary Seery; a daughter and son-in-law, Thoma and Fredrick Neid of Lincoln; and a sister, Mary Gill of Cotter, Ark.
Additional survivors include two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He received his education at Batesville, Ark. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1928 and was honorably discharged in 1948.
He was united in marriage to Mary Wineinger on Aug. 14, 1939, at Portsmouth, Va. The couple resided in various locations during his Naval career and moved in 1950 to Grand Island, where they remained. He was an insurance agent with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for 47 years. During this time he served as District Agent and Senior Life Agent after his retirement.
He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was an honorary life member of the Central Catholic Foundation and an Honorary Admiral in the Nebraska Navy. He also was a member of the Platt-Deutsche Society, the Elks and the American Legion. He volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and took great pleasure in helping with the fund-raising efforts for various civic organizations. He enjoyed fishing, playing softball, bowling and especially golf.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Parish Center, Central Catholic High School or Big Brothers Big Sisters.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister.
Printer Friendly Version (Opens in New Window)
Return to Crew Stories Index
NOTE: All stories, photos, etc. are the property of the individuals by whom they were submitted and may not be reprinted or used for any reason without the written consent of the owner.
CONTENT MAY ALSO BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT (17 U.S.C. § 107 & § 108 (a)(3)).
Email for further information. Thank you.
