FRANK WILLIAM HEDGES, 92 years of Lyons, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at the Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, NE.

Frank was born on March 10, 1919, in rural Walthill, Nebraska,  to Chester and Grace (Young) Hedges. Frank attended country school near Walthill and later Los Angeles City College, and Cal Poly College at San Dimas, CA.

On February 20, 1941, Frank enlisted in the Army and was stationed in the Philippines. When the Pearl Harbor attack came on December 7th, his company, the 31st Infantry, was immediately sent to Bataan, where they fought there and in Corregidor for four months before being taken a prisoner of the Japanese. Frank was a Prisoner of War for 40 months until the Japanese surrendered to the US in August 1945. He received his discharge from the Army on May 1, 1946.

On March 21, 1946, Frank married Helene Anabel Anderson in Glendale, California. To  this union, two sons were born: William Frank, and Michael Carrol. Frank and Helene farmed for 14 years in the Jefferson neighborhood. He loved the farm life, but moved to Lyons in March 1965 when he accepted work at the Lyons Post Office until he retired in 1981.   

He greatly enjoyed his family and their trips together. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and he especially enjoyed working with his sons on carpentry projects. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, VFW, and American Legion.

He  was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Betty (Hedges) Forristal and her husband, Jack Forristal of Houston, TX; Alice (Hedges) Anderson and  her husband, Elton Anderson of Lyons NE; brother, George Hedges of Fayetteville, NC; brother-in-law, Raymond Beaudette, of Denver, CO, and an infant great granddaughter, Sophia Ann of Clear Lake, WI.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 65 years of marriage, Helene; his sons, William (Bill) of Lyons,   Michael of Clayton, WI; five grandchildren, James Hedges  and Jorma Hedges, both of Lyons, Aaron Hedges of Clayton, WI, Sarah (Hedges) Oxendale of New Richmond,  WI,  Hayley (Hedges) Jones of Augusta, GA; three great grandchildren, Ty and Teagan Oxendale,  Jaiden Jones; sister, Eva (Hedges) Beaudette of Denver, CO; brother and sisters-in-law, Raymond and  Retta Hedges and Deloris Hedges all of Fayetteville NC.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, January 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Lyons.

VISITATION: Friday, 4 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons. Visitation Saturday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery with Military Honors by Harvey Lenig American Legion Post No. 83 and Robert Klase VFW Post No. 7998

MEMORIALS: Memorial United Methodist Church, Oakland Mercy Hospital, or Harvey Lenig American Legion Post No. 83 and Robert Klase VFW Post No. 7998.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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