1935
John
2008
John Francis Donahue
February 26, 1935 — July 31, 2008
John F. Donahue, 73, of Waterville, IA, died Thursday, July 31, 2008, at his home in Waterville. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 4th, at 11:00 AM at St. Pius at Cherry Mound Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry, IA, with Fr. Louis Trzil officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, IA, where there will be a 3:00 PM scripture service.
John Francis Donahue was born on February 26, 1935 near Waukon Junction in rural Harpers Ferry, IA. His parents were Edward M. and Violet (Sawvell) Donahue. He attended the Harpers Ferry Schools and as a young many worked at home and for neighboring farmers. On February 13, 1956 he married Theresa Mary Howe. They were later divorced. On October 23, 1992 he married Janice Cahalan McGeough in Lansing, IA. John began his working career at the John Deere foundry in Waterloo. After a short time he moved closer to home and was a cheesemaker at the Volney cheese factory. Following that he spent many years as a mechanic, first at Keenan Ford in Lansing and then at Burg Implement in Waukon. In recent years he has worked for Dahlstrom Logging, doing a variety of different jobs.
John was a member of St. Pius at Cherry Mound Catholic Church and the North American Hunting Club. He was a true outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish, trap, raise coon dogs and take drives through the local countryside. Attending his grandchildren's sporting activities and following NASCAR were some of his other favorite things. He was also an avid story teller and very proud of his Irish heritage.
Survivors include his wife, Janice of Waterville; 6 children, Jerry (Michelle) and Dale (Pie) Donahue and Diane (Scott) Pederson, all of Waukon, Sharon (Bob) Barr of Janesville, IA, Joanne (Randy) Lier of Waterville, and John (Anna) Donahue of Amarillo, TX; 8 step-children, Larry (Lisa) McGeough of Willard, MO, Pat (Debbie) and Mat McGeough, both of Waukon, Roberta (Bill) Tesar, Peggy (Craig Schultz) Heisz and Erin (Will) Zeeh, all of McGregor, IA, Molly (Bob) Wasechek of Prairie du Chien, WI, and Kenny (Monica) McGeough of Waterville; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 16 step-grandchildren; 9 step-great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Joe (Betty) Donahue of Dubuque, IA, Jim (Cheryl) Donahue of Gurnee, IL and Jerry Donahue of Waterloo, IA; and 8 sisters, Mary (Merlin) Troendle-Faldet of Decorah, IA, Marjorie (James) Trewnick of Iron River, MI, Marcella (John) Palade of Glendale Heights, IL, Monica (Jim) Edgar, Madonna Walsh, and Maureen (David) Graeber, all of Waterloo, Margaret (John) Elin of Torrance, CA and Marilyn (Lyle) Kenney of McHenry, IL.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and infant brother, Edward Michael; 2 step-children, Monica and Maurice McGeough; and 3 step-grandchildren.
Honorary casketbearers are Bob, Ross and Jamie Lier, Jennifer Martinez, Brittany Donahue, Chelsy Flores, B.J. Barr, Joyce Pederson and Abby Zeeh. Casketbearers are Cory, Travis, Devin, Logan and Levi Donahue and Andrew Zeeh.
John Francis Donahue was born on February 26, 1935 near Waukon Junction in rural Harpers Ferry, IA. His parents were Edward M. and Violet (Sawvell) Donahue. He attended the Harpers Ferry Schools and as a young many worked at home and for neighboring farmers. On February 13, 1956 he married Theresa Mary Howe. They were later divorced. On October 23, 1992 he married Janice Cahalan McGeough in Lansing, IA. John began his working career at the John Deere foundry in Waterloo. After a short time he moved closer to home and was a cheesemaker at the Volney cheese factory. Following that he spent many years as a mechanic, first at Keenan Ford in Lansing and then at Burg Implement in Waukon. In recent years he has worked for Dahlstrom Logging, doing a variety of different jobs.
John was a member of St. Pius at Cherry Mound Catholic Church and the North American Hunting Club. He was a true outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish, trap, raise coon dogs and take drives through the local countryside. Attending his grandchildren's sporting activities and following NASCAR were some of his other favorite things. He was also an avid story teller and very proud of his Irish heritage.
Survivors include his wife, Janice of Waterville; 6 children, Jerry (Michelle) and Dale (Pie) Donahue and Diane (Scott) Pederson, all of Waukon, Sharon (Bob) Barr of Janesville, IA, Joanne (Randy) Lier of Waterville, and John (Anna) Donahue of Amarillo, TX; 8 step-children, Larry (Lisa) McGeough of Willard, MO, Pat (Debbie) and Mat McGeough, both of Waukon, Roberta (Bill) Tesar, Peggy (Craig Schultz) Heisz and Erin (Will) Zeeh, all of McGregor, IA, Molly (Bob) Wasechek of Prairie du Chien, WI, and Kenny (Monica) McGeough of Waterville; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 16 step-grandchildren; 9 step-great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Joe (Betty) Donahue of Dubuque, IA, Jim (Cheryl) Donahue of Gurnee, IL and Jerry Donahue of Waterloo, IA; and 8 sisters, Mary (Merlin) Troendle-Faldet of Decorah, IA, Marjorie (James) Trewnick of Iron River, MI, Marcella (John) Palade of Glendale Heights, IL, Monica (Jim) Edgar, Madonna Walsh, and Maureen (David) Graeber, all of Waterloo, Margaret (John) Elin of Torrance, CA and Marilyn (Lyle) Kenney of McHenry, IL.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and infant brother, Edward Michael; 2 step-children, Monica and Maurice McGeough; and 3 step-grandchildren.
Honorary casketbearers are Bob, Ross and Jamie Lier, Jennifer Martinez, Brittany Donahue, Chelsy Flores, B.J. Barr, Joyce Pederson and Abby Zeeh. Casketbearers are Cory, Travis, Devin, Logan and Levi Donahue and Andrew Zeeh.
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