Ivo Gerald “Buzz” Suing

Ivo Gerald “Buzz” Suing

August 8, 1933 – April 8, 2022

A loving and caring person and proud father and grandfather, Ivo Gerald “Buzz” Suing died on April 8, 2022. at the age of 88.  He was born in Omaha, Nebraska at Lutheran Hospital to parents, Ivo and Lucy Suing.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother; sister, Billie Jackson and husband, Lowell; nephew, Jerry Hazelrigg; brother-in-law, Richard Harvey; and great-granddaughter, Aiyana Neely.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jo Ann; five children: Cheryl Suing-Edwards (Marilyn) of Long Beach, CA, Cindy George (Jim) of Omaha, Cathy O’Donnell (Denny) of Omaha, Cristy Neely (Daryl) of Reno, NV, and Doug Suing; eight grandchildren: Emily George (Dan) of Omaha, Taylor George of Honolulu, Hawaii, Ryan O’Donnell, Nick O’Donnell, and Jack O’Donnell, all of Omaha, Tristan Neely, Elijah Neely, and Noah Neely, all of Reno, NV; five great-grandchildren: Justynn “Ayden” George, Rainer Neely, Halen Neely, Jameson Neely, and the little angel, Aiyana Neely who preceded her grandfather in death—may they both be dancing, singing, and playing together again.  Buzz is also survived by a sister, Judy Harvey, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A longtime resident of Omaha, Buzz attended Holy Cross Grade School and Central High School (class of ’51) and graduated from UNO in 1960 with a BS in Engineering Business.  After college he went on to work for Lamp and Rynearson Civil Engineers, BH Backlin, Boat Ranch, and William H. Harvey Company from which he retired in 1997.

In 1953 Buzz and two of his good friends enlisted in the US Army at the Omaha recruiting office.  They were sent to Army boot camp in El Paso, Texas in 1954, after which Buzz was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii, for three years, holding several jobs including Photography, Artillery, Radio Communications, and Big Gunfire Missions, and participating in the Korean War.  He mustered out of the Army in 1957.

Buzz met Jo Ann Schmitz on a blind date in February of 1958.  On the first date they went bowling; on the second date they went to the May Dance at UNO; and their third date was a dance at Peony Park.  Buzz proposed to Jo Ann in April of 1960 in his back yard, and they were married on August 6, 1960.  Buzz and Jo Ann traveled to many places, including Ireland, Portugal, Japan, Hawaii, Netherlands, Paris, Rome, Canada, Jamaica, and Croatia.  Pilgrimages they made together took them many places, both stateside and afar.  In retirement, Buzz and Jo Ann bought a travel trailer and took the grandchildren on many camping trips to the Grand Canyon.

For many years, Buzz and Jo Ann enjoyed square dancing, making some long-term good friends in the process.  A Fourth-Degree member of Knights of Columbus, Buzz had a number of hobbies: gardening, camping, boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing with his children.

VISITATION: Tuesday, April 19^th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, April 20^th at 11am at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 11802 Pacific.  Interment with military honors: Resurrection Cemetery.  For memorials, the family suggests Masses or donations to Archdiocese of Omaha Seminarians or the Siena/Francis House.

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.