Jerry Finney

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Jerry Finney, 66, Greencastle, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013.

He was born May 23, 1947 in DuQuoin, Ill., the only child of Gerald and Arline (Coffel) Finney.

Mr. Finney graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1969 with a BA in government, and from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1973.

He practiced law in Illinois, serving in both the Illinois Attorney's Office and as Macon County Public Defender, where he served longer than any other person in the history of the county. Later, he worked in automobile sales in Indiana.

He is survived by his wife, Melanie (Kellow) Finney; four sons, Michael, Daniel, John and Stephen; stepsons Patrick and Brennan (Stephanie Zimmer) Barnes; and grandsons, Noah and Liam Barnes.

After retirement, Jerry became a scholar of Irish history and studied the Irish language. He was a member of the Kevin Barry Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greencastle.

He was also an accomplished carpenter, a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, a trivia master and a lover of animals. He had an extraordinary memory, a quick wit and was an excellent cook. But most importantly, he was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather.

There will be a visitation in the Irish tradition at the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics on the DePauw campus (http://www.depauw.edu/academics/centers/prindle/hours_directions/) on Monday, August 19 from 4-8 p.m., with a brief tribute at 6 p.m. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20 at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 202 E. Washington Street in Greencastle at 11 a.m.

Memorials in Jerry's name may be made to the Putnam County Humane Society and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Online memories may be shared at http://www.forevermissed.com/jerry-finney47.

Arrangements entrusted with Indiana Memorial Cremation & Funeral Service.