Michael James McCarthy

Michael James McCarthy

August 29, 1955 – August 29, 2024

Michael James McCarthy was born to James and Mary O’Brien McCarthy on August 29, 1955.  Having achieved his earthly purpose and in Mike’s own fitting style, he passed from this life on his 69th birthday, August 29, 2024.

The only boy in a family of six, Mike grew up with 5 sisters in Geneva, Nebraska.  He often jokingly spoke of the trials of growing up with all those girls. Though he always knew that growing up as the only boy, made him the wonderful husband, father and grandfather he became.

Mike “challenged” the nuns at St. Joseph’s Catholic School through the 8th grade. Graduating from Geneva High School in 1974, he headed to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, earning a degree in Journalism. Mike served as Sports Editor for the UNL Daily Nebraskan, as well as sports writing at the Omaha World Herald. Following the footsteps of McCarthy’s before him, he earned his Juris Doctorate at the UNL College of Law in 1981. Mike worked most of his career as litigator for State Farm Insurance fraud claims.

Mike met and married the love of his life, Kitty Lynam on April 17, 1982, and for 42 years they lived, loved, and laughed.  And as their children, Jay, Chris and Molly can affirm…. they mostly, laughed!

Mike will be forever remembered for his Irish sense of humor, his “long stories short” and the jokes he told more than once to the same audience, and still met with roaring laughter.  He was the guy with the advice; the guy with the best stories; the guy who made you laugh; the person you wanted to be around.  Mike was a great cook and could turn any leftovers into a gourmet meal.  His children recall when their friends would come to the house the first words they would hear from Mike were, “Are you hungry?”  He truly enjoyed cooking in the kitchen and grilling in the backyard, and all were the beneficiaries of his culinary skills.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Kelley, with whom he shared his birthday making them “Irish twins”; his in-laws, Fran and Ed Lynam; brothers-in-law, Frank Troia and Bruce Franson; and nephews, Joey Lundberg and Danny Schroetlin.

There is undoubtedly a host of people who will miss Mike.  Those who loved him best include his wife, Kitty; son, Jay and fiancé Aliana; son, Chris; daughter, Molly and husband, Kyle Medcalf and granddaughter, Julia; along with his sisters, Kathleen and husband, Tim Wilbeck,  Brother in-law Mark Champion, Bridget Franson, Mary and husband, Roger Lundberg, Shirley and husband, Ryan Schroetlin; and sisters-in-law, Jan and husband Jon Lindell, Deb Troia, Eileen and husband, Dan Hartnett; and his nieces and nephews.

Family and friends of Mike gathered to toast and remember the Irish Husband, Father, Brother and Friend, who will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers and memorial donations, the family requests that you take a moment to remember the times you each shared with Mike.