Surnames: Finnegan, Horel, Trapino, Underwood, Cox, Bunetta, Johnson, Enerson, Marg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 18, 2008

Finnegan, Ralph P. "Pat" (3 December 1917 - 12 June 2008)

With Flag

Ralph P. "Pat" Finnegan, 90, of Humbird, and formerly of Burlington, died Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Shakopee, MN.

Ralph was born December 3, 1917, in a gold mining camp in Oroville, CA, to parents William Garfield and Theo Irene (Horel) Finnegan. After some years in California, the family returned to Humbird. Ralph attended Humbird High School, Class of 1936, and moved to Colorado after high school.

He served in the U. S. Army during World War II, serving as a weapons instructor at Fort Benning, GA, until his discharge in 1945. After his military service, he was employed by the Chicago Sun-Times as a circulation roadman for 27 years.

He married Virginia Trapino of Madison November 7, 1953. The family lived in South Bend and Elkhart, IN, for 10 years and returned to Wisconsin, living in Fontana and Burlington for 20 years. Ralph retired back in Humbird and spent his retirement years traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ralph loved the woods and found great pleasure in hunting birds, rabbits and especially deer.

Ralph is survived by two sons, Timothy (Marsha) Finnegan of Litchfield, NH, and Thomas Finnegan of Deland, FL; a daughter, Patrice (Ed) Underwood of Shakopee, MN; and granddaughters, Jessica Cox and Bailey Finnegan. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, including Robert (Bonnie) Finnegan of Tollhouse, CA, Patricia (Bill) Bunetta of Fresno, CA, and longtime friend, Dolores Johnson of Neillsville, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by brothers, Frank and Robert, and by his sister, Mary "Velma" Enerson.

Funeral services for Ralph P. Finnegan were held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2008, at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton, with Reverend Terry Marg officiating. Burial with military rites by the Alma Center VFW Post 8494 took place in East Lawn Cemetery, Alma Center. Friends called Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and also one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Casket bearers were Robert Finnegan, Tim Finnegan, Tom Finnegan and Ed Underwood.