Obituary: Tributes paid to beloved forester Brendan McKenna

The untimely death has occurred of Brendan McKenna, 210 Dungannon Road, Killeeshil.

Brendan passed away peacefully in the ICU at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on September 23 after a short illness.

Brendan loved the great outdoors and worked for over 40 years with the Northern Ireland Forestry Service, based mainly at Pomeroy Forest and, in more recent years, at Parkanaur Forest Park.

Pomeroy Forest Park was close to his childhood home at Bardahessiagh, Slate Quarry, Pomeroy.

He was a highly skilled forester and was brilliant with his hands, but he also had a deep love of military history.

Brendan was an expert on WWII Willys military jeeps and greatly enjoyed local jeep runs with his wife, Una, and other ‘Jeepsters’.

His love of jeeps was acknowledged at his funeral by the presence of six wartime jeeps, including Brendan’s own locally famous ‘Screaming Eagles’ Jeep, all driven by his ‘Jeepster’ friends.

The jeep convoy joined the funeral cortège from Brendan’s home to the funeral service at the Church of the Assumption, Tullyallen, and then travelled over the rolling hills to Statequarry Cemetery, where Brendan was laid to rest.

Brendan is survived by his wife, Una; his sons, Stephen and Aaron (and daughter-in-law Jane); his brother, Patsy; his sisters, Rosemary and Ann; and his wider family circle.

Brendan’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated in the Church of Saint John, Slatequarry, on Sunday, October 25, at 10.30am.

Refreshments will be served afterwards in the adjacent hall.