Jim Cassey

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Dec. 1, 1939 - Dec. 7, 2008

GRAND ISLAND -- Jim Cassey, 69, of Grand Island, died Sunday (Dec. 7, 2008) at St. Francis Medical Center.

Memorial services will be Friday, Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m., at Central Catholic High School. The Rev. Mike McDermott will officiate.

Curran Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Jim was born Dec. 1, 1939, in Springfield, Mo. He was the son of Wilber and Mildred (Eccles) Cassey.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Maggie Cassey of Grand Island; brother, Dixon Cassey of Arizona; sister, Debbie Swanson of California; and sister-in-law, Georgia Glass of Lincoln.

Jim graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1958. He continued his education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

Jim was united in marriage to Margaret (Maggie) Glass on June 3, 1967, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island. He taught high school in O'Neill, McCook and Grand Island Senior High. He was a Speech and English teacher and Gymnastics and Debate Coach. He retired in May of 2001.

Jim was a teacher for Central Community College for three years and began teaching at Grand Island Central Catholic in 2005.

The ancient Roman poet and author Virgil wrote, "your profession is what you were put on earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling." This was Jim; he was born to be a teacher.

He was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma, the Grand Island Saddle Club, Grand Island Livestock Association (Fonner Park) and the Retired Teacher's Association.

Jim was an avid horseracing fan and enjoyed boating, camping and lake life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Beth Dyrkopp and a brother, Wilber "Bill" Cassey.

Memorials are suggested to Grand Island Central Catholic in Jim's name.