James H. 'Cocky' Colligan

October 24, 2014 Last Updated: October 24, 2014 01:01 PM Death Notice

James H. “Cocky” Colligan, 94, of East Brady passed away Saturday at VA Butler Healthcare.

Born on Sept. 6, 1920, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late James H. and Mary A. Weibel Colligan.

On Jan. 26, 1952, Cocky married the former Peggy L. Irwin, who survives in East Brady.

A 1938 graduate of East Brady High School, Cocky began his career with the Civilian Conservation Corps as a tree planter and erosion control specialist.

He then served during World War II with the U.S. Coast Guard as a quartermaster 3rd class stationed at Cape May for 3 and a half years.

Cocky returned to his hometown of East Brady and worked as a diesel machinist for 40 years for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Conrail at Phillipston.

He was a member of St. Eusebius Roman Catholic Church and the American Legion Post 488 in Bradys Bend, where he served in the Honor Guard for many years.

Cocky loved to dance, play baseball and tend his vegetable garden. You could always find him cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

In addition to his wife, Cocky is survived by his daughter, Christina (Henry) Gizienski of Saxonburg, and his five sons, James Colligan Jr. of Butler, Joseph Colligan of Van Nuys, Calif., Bruce (Mary) Colligan of Peoria, Ill., John Colligan of East Brady, and Tim (Bridget) Colligan of Sligo.

He also is survived by his sister-in-law, Mabel Colligan of Kittanning; his nine grandsons, Sean (Kristie) and Jesse (Sheri) Gizienski, and Nick (Heather), Adam, Clint, Alec, Harrison, Chance, and Kevin Colligan; his five granddaughters, Sara Colligan, Kayla Berlin, and Kierra, Rylie and Brady Colligan, and his six great-grandchildren, and his numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Cocky was preceded in death by his two brothers, Roy and John Colligan, and his sister, Mary Huml.

Colligan— The friends of James H. “Cocky” Colligan, who passed away Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at theBuechele Funeral Home, 707 Kellys Way, East Brady, with a parish prayer service at 3:30 p.m. and a veterans service at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Eusebius Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. William Kuba celebrating. Committal services, military honors and burial will follow in St. Eusebius Cemetery.The Colligan family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Cocky's name to the East Brady Ambulance, P.O. Box 325 East Brady, PA 16028.To view or express condolences, please visit www.BuecheleFuneralHome.com.