Obituary for Norman P. Harrison

Norman P. Harrison, 88 of Grand Island died Sunday, March 11, 2018 in the Grand Island Veterans Administration Hospital.Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Thursday at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Celebrating Mass will be Father Donald Buhrman and Father Charles Torpey. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors will be rendered by the United States Air Force and the United Veterans Honor Guard.Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Wednesday with a 7 PM Vigil Service at All Faiths Funeral Home.In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either St. Leo's Scholarship Fund, Hope Harbor or Central Nebraska Humane Society.Norman Paul Harrison was born November 20, 1929 in Sargent, Nebraska the son of Ernest and Helen Inez (Dutton) Harrison. He was reared and educated in Cheyenne, Wyoming graduating from Cheyenne High School class of 1947.The family moved to Grand Island in 1949, where Norma was employed by Stryker's Florist and Union Pacific Railroad.Norm married Elizabeth Ann Carraher on December 27, 1952 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island.Norm enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in September 1950, where he spent the next 21 years with tours of duty in Canada, England, Germany, Vietnam, California, Mississippi and Texas. He was awarded numerous medals along with the Bronze Star for meritorious duty in South Vietnam. Norm was also a Korean War Veteran. He honorably retired from military service in 1971. He and his wife were able to travel to Washington D.C. with the first Hall County Vietnam Hero Flight.Following his retirement from the military, Norm managed Riverside Golf Club from 1971-74. He then became purchasing manager for Heinzman Engineering, Inc. until 1979. He retired from Insurance and Personnel Services in July 1989.Norm was a parishioner of St. Mary's Cathedral and then a charter member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, having served on the parish council. He was formerly a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus member, Rotary International, American Legion, 45-year member of Riverside Golf Club and participant for years on the Nebraska Golf Association Course Rating Team. He previously volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, The Big Brother Program, St. Francis Medical Center, Nebraska State Fair, and was a greeter/usher at St. Leo's. He was also an avid bowler and golfer.Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth "Buzz"; two brothers, Rex and Bill Harrison of San Diego, CA; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Carraher, Diane Robinson Grubbs and Patricia Durbin all of Grand Island; and numerous precious nieces, nephews and cousins.Norm was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Dan Carraher, Al Grubbs and Larry Durbin.