Matthew McGuire

Matthew Gerard McGuire, age 58, of Ashton and formerly of Wood River, died on Wednesday, June 24, at CHI Immanuel Hospital in Omaha from a blood infection complication. Visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Wood River today, Thursday, July 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:00. Mass of Christian burial will be tomorrow, Friday, July 3, at 10:00 a.m. with the Reverend Stanley Ejike Madubuike and the Reverend Jorge Canela officiating. A private family internment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Memorials are kindly suggested to Wood River Fire and Rescue or the Grand Island Central Catholic Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. apfelfuneralhome.com.

Matt was born on December 7, 1967, in Grand Island to Morris and Monica (McCann) McGuire. He grew up on the family farm west of Wood River. He attended District #5 grade school and graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic High School in 1985.

He played football in high school and enjoyed his many high school friends. He attended Kearney State College. In 1988, Matt began working for Fairbanks Irrigation and enjoyed helping drill wells. He farmed with his father, Morris, near Wood River and also worked as a hired man for several area farmers.

His hobbies included bowling and tractor pulls. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Wood River.

He is survived by his sisters, Julie McGuire, of Denver, Colorado, Angela (Dirk) Nickel, of Kearney, and Kate McGuire, of Grand Island; one brother, Patrick (Rhonda) McGuire, of Wood River; and a nephew, James (Karen) McGuire, of Elkhart, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Tim McGuire and John McGuire; one sister, Margaret McGuire; and his parents, Morris and Monica McGuire.