Albert Anthone Mar 2023

    Albert Anthone passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023. He died at his home in Omaha, surrounded by his loving family, holding onto his faith in God while finishing his life journey here on earth.

Albert “Al” Anthone was born to Oscar and Gabrielle Anthone (immigrants from Belgium) in Omaha, Nebraska at St. Joseph Hospital on April 3, 1931. He had one sister, Leona, and three brothers, Albert Gasbar (who died in infancy), Henry (Hank), and Robert (Bob). The Anthone family lived in south Omaha, where Oscar worked at a meat packing house, and Al attended St. Mary’s for grade school. In his words, “I must have been a holy terror, because at four years old, they sent me to school early. I remember Mom taking me to school for the first time, and at the morning recess I came back home … so she hauled me back to school.” The neighborhood was full of fellow Belgian friends and Al grew up flying kites, playing marbles and football and baseball, and playing at the (forbidden) railroad tracks.

In 1942, just as World War II began, the Anthone family moved to North Omaha to the basement of St. Cecelia’s Cathedral, where Oscar worked as a custodian. Al often joined him for odd jobs. After high school, Al worked in construction as a laborer, and then at Omaha Production Plant in the assembly department.

The Korean War began in 1950, and Al joined the Navy and left for San Diego. But just before then, he met a cute girl named Patty Murray, sitting on a stool at Blackburn’s Drugstore in Omaha. Pat had her eyes on Al, and decided not to waste time: here was a Catholic, dark-haired, quiet man, and she was ready to hook him. But after a date dancing at the Peony Park Ballroom, Patty was concerned: she wanted a quiet guy, but Al was too quiet. So, she boldly asked, “Are you going to ask me out again?” “Yes,” Al answered. “I’m not going with you unless you start talking,” said Pat. After that, he never stopped talking!

After completing boot camp in San Diego, Al received orders for the USS Jason ARH-1, a ship located in San Francisco, where he worked his way to an electrical shop in the repair division. He spent three years rewinding electric motors throughout the Pacific and in Japan, then later transferred to the USS Hector.

Lots of letters flew between Al and Pat, and they were married on October 11, 1952, at St. Cecelia’s Cathedral in Omaha. The Anthones lived in California (with two children) until moving back to Omaha in 1954 to a cozy home on Binney Street in Holy Name Parish. Their family continued growing, and on New Year’s Eve, 1965, they moved to a brand new home on Shirley Street with all six children, becoming founding members of the St. Robert Bellarmine Parish. To provide for his family, Al worked up to three jobs at the same time, and even brought his family along — for 25 years, they helped with a part-time cleaning business at the Truesdale Distribution Company. In 1983, Al found he had colon cancer, with an immediate operation followed by radiation, finally reaching full health once again after two years of chemotherapy.

In 1957, Al began working for Western Electric (later AT&T, then Lucent Technologies), where he stayed for 34 years as a machinist.  He retired in 1991, and with Pat enjoyed retirement immensely: enjoying time with family, golfing with friends, keeping up their home and yard, and traveling across the country and to visit extended relatives in Belgium and Europe in 2003.

Al and Pat moved to a ranch home in the Walnut Ridge neighborhood. Twenty years of countless family gatherings and rich memories followed. Al and Pat were so proud of the accomplishments of their six children and soaked up many sweet times with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Al’s life was marked by hard work and ingenuity; he loved to figure out how things worked and fix them, from lawn mowers to cars to computers. He overwhelmingly loved his wife and family, sacrificing for their greater good. Through his life to the very end, he was faithful to the Lord, practicing his Catholic faith, reading the Bible, and trusting God for his hope in both life and death.
His family is forever blessed because of the love and devotion of Albert Anthone.

Albert & Patricia Anthone’s family:
Daughter — Mary Jo (Edward McKenna, deceased) with four children: Jeanne (Bret Batchelder, children Haley, Brenna, Preston, and Brendan), Matthew (Yelitza, children Seth and Ana), Luke (deceased, daughters Eliana, Graysen, Calla), and Sean (Desi). Son — Gary (Annlouise), with six children: Joey (Jen, sons Carter, Landon, and Max), Gabrielle (Chris Hasiak, children Jude, Lucy, Bernadette, and Adelaide), Lauren (Ted Dedon, daughters Ana Sophia, and Hildegard), Alex (Kacey, daughter Eloise), Emily, and Thomas. Son — Barry (deceased in infancy). Son — Timothy Sr. (Genise) with four children: Sarah (son Mason), Nichole (children Cy and Tommy), Michaela, Timothy Jr. Son — Mark (Georgeann) with three children: Bryan, Lynn (son Harrison), AJ (Holly Valencia, daughter Rylynn). Daughter — Karen (Bill Ward) with five children: Katie, Amy, Billy (Hayley, sons Will and Wyatt), Esther, Andy. Daughter — Connie (deceased), (John Hasterlo, remarried to Stella Karnis), with six children: Sam (Hannah, daughters Violet and Poppy Sue), Ian (Shannon), Catherine, Lydia, Jill (Alice), and Colleen.