Allen D. Irish, 92, of Columbus, Nebraska, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 13, 2011, at the Cottonwood House Assisted Living in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at 10:30 AM at the Columbus Berean Church with Pastor William Sanborn officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 PM on Tuesday in the Valley View Cemetery, Genoa, Nebraska with military honors by the American Legion Edward H. Larson, Post 144 Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Tuesday at 10:15 AM at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church.

Allen was born March 1, 1918, in Genoa, Nebraska, to Ross and Anna (Christensen) Irish. He was raised in Genoa and after graduating from Genoa High School worked as a cowhand on a ranch in Lisco, Nebraska. He entered the United States Army Air Corps on May 1, 1942, and was honorably discharged on November 26, 1945. Allen was united in marriage to June Kershaw on August 15, 1942, at the Air Force chapel on Chanute Air Field near Champaign, Illinois. Following his time in the service, he returned to Genoa where he worked for a time at Koziol's Grocery Store and later became employed by the U.S. Postal Service where he was a clerk, postmaster, and rural mail carrier, and farmed part time at the "Green Acres" farm in Silver Creek, Nebraska.

After retiring in 1978, Allen and June moved to Columbus, Nebraska. Allen enjoyed all sports, playing for the Genoa baseball team, hunting, fishing, golfing, flying his Piper Cub airplane, and also often entertained at events as a magician. He was skilled at building things out of wood, and had a talent for drawing sketches, painting, and writing poems. He served on the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department, was a 65 year member of the American Legion where he served on the Honor Guard for many years. Allen was a member of the Columbus Berean Church.

Allen is survived by:
Wife - June Irish of Columbus, NE
Daughter - Cheryl (Ron) Greenwall of Columbus, NE
Son - Robert (Kathy) Irish of Columbus, NE
Daughter - Phyllis (Stan) Schiermann of Waverly, NE
Stepmother - Bessie Irish of Columbus, NE
Sister - Donna Lou (Robert) O'Brien of Omaha, NE
Sister - Alice (Richard) Homan of Bradenton, FL
12 Grandchildren
16 Great Grandchildren
1 Great-Great Grandchild

Allen was preceded in death by:
Parents - Ross and Anna Irish
Stepbrother - Winnie Leslie
Daughter-in-law - Lynda Sue (Collins) Irish


SERVICE FOLDER INFORMATION


Music
Heather Griffith - Accompanist
Heather Griffith & Annie Sanborn - Duet
"Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone"
Congregational Hymn
"The Old Rugged Cross"

Casket Bearers
Ric Greenwall Jason Irish
Brent Irish Clinton Greenwall
Jared Irish Dan Schiermann
Tim Schiermann Brian Irish
Ben Schiermann Ken Hurley
Brandy Rudy