Joseph "Gene" McDermott, 85, of Grand Island died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Primrose Retirement Community, with his family at his side.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Mark A. Maresh will be the celebrant, assisted by Deacon Randy Lewandowski. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the United Veterans Honor Guard and U.S. Army Honor Team.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Tuesday at the church. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Gene was born Aug. 29, 1932, in Custer County to Joseph K. and Monica (Moroney) McDermott.
Survivors of Gene's immediate family include two sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Karla McDermott of Grand Island and Jerome and Lynne McDermott of Salt Lake City, Utah; three daughters and sons-in-law, Cindi and John Zlomke, Pam and Ken Svoboda and Brenda and Greg Smith, all of Grand Island; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pat McDermott of Westminster, Colo., Elizabeth and Pete Kaufman of Grand Island and Mary Lou and Don Loeffelbein of Omaha; and a brother and sister-in-law, Hank and Else McDermott of Grand Island.
Others left to cherish his memory include his grandchildren, Heather, Hayley, Adam, Danielle, Matt, Matthew, Brett, Ryan, Lindsey and Brian, and his great-grandchildren, Ryker, Hayden, Elisabeth, Aubree, Sawyer, Bria, Sterling and Austyn.
Gene grew up in the Anselmo area, graduating from Anselmo High School in 1950. He worked for his father's trucking company until his father's death, after which Gene moved his mother and family to Grand Island. He was employed with Diers Motor until entering the U.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1954, serving mostly in Alaska until his honorable discharge on Nov, 16, 1956. Upon returning from the service, he worked for Southern Nebraska Public Power for 25 years. He married Beverly L. Anderson on June 1, 1957, at St. Mary's Cathedral, in Grand Island. Gene purchased Pier One Imports, owning and operating the business for five years. He moved to Loup City, returning after four years to Grand Island, where he worked for St. Francis Medical Center until his retirement. Bev died Aug. 21, 2015. In April of 2016, Gene entered Primrose Retirement Community, where he enjoyed the staff, activities and atmosphere until his death. The family was especially appreciative of the care he received while at Primrose as well as from Aseracare Hospice.
He was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Cathedral.

He enjoyed time spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was an avid horse race fan for many years.
He is welcomed into heaven by his parents; his wife, Bev; an infant daughter, Margaret Mary; and a sister, Margaret "Peg" Kenoyer.