Mass of Christian Burial for the Rev. James F. McCluskey, (Fr. Mac) 79, of Wayne will be held Wednesday, June 29 at 10:30 a.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wayne with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at Newcastle.
To view live streaming of the Mass Of Christian Burial for Fr. Mac: https://youtube.com/c/StMarysCatholic ChurchWayneNE
He died Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.
Memorials may be directed to Fr. Mac’s family for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
James Francis McCluskey was born Aug. 5, 194, in Ponca to William P. and Lucille E. (Gath) McCluskey. In 1960, he graduated from Newcastle High School. He attended St. John Vianney Elkhorn, 1960 to 1962, Immaculate Conception Seminary in Conception, Missouri from 1962 to 1964, St. Thomas Theology School 1964 to 1968, and received his Masters Degree of Guidance Counseling from Creighton University in Omaha in 1982. On May 25, 1968, Fr. James F. McCluskey was ordained a Priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral. Over the next 60 years, Fr. Mac would serve many parishes in the Archdiocese including, Associate Pastor, St. Mary’s West Point, 1968 to 1970, and then Associate Pastor, St. Patrick’s O’Neill, 1970 to 1977. As Pastor he served, St. Bonaventure Raeville, 1977 to 1988, St. Michael’s South Sioux City, 1988 to 1990, St. Stanislaus Duncan, 1990 to 1998, St. Mary’s Wayne, 1998 to 2003, St. Mary’s Laurel and St. Anne’s Dixon, 2003 to 2013. After retiring to Wayne in 2013, he continued to assist many fellow priests in area parishes. He enjoyed Nebraska football, various sports, NASCAR, and playing golf.
Fr. Mac was a genuine teacher of the Gospel, spiritual leader and minister of the sacraments to many of God’s people. His sense of humor and kindness will always be remembered.
Fr. James F. McCluskey, the Archdiocese of Omaha, the Parish of St. Mary’s and the community of Wayne bid you farewell…Welcome into your Father’s Kingdom.
Survivors include his brothers, William “Bill” of Downey, California, Tom (Diane) of Newcastle, and Don (Helen) of Indianapolis, Indiana; nieces; nephews; and many parish families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Margaret (Ralph) M. Noecker, Lou Anne (Jack) Guy, and Marilyn McCluskey; brother, Robert T. “Bob” McCluskey; and sister-in-law, Charlene McCluskey.
