"Uncle Jack, Rest is peace, as you are now with Kay, Mom & Dad, and the rest of our family that have passed. You were a strong leader by example, and your Faith in Christ is now your future. Blessings, and my heart go out to your children & family. Under the same wing, Chris & Laura Wilkinson"
In loving memory of
John F. Donohue
John F. Donohue, 88, passed away on January 8, 2018 at home with family members at his side.
He leaves behind his son John (Chris), daughters Ann and Patricia, granddaughter Bridgette,
brother Daniel, nephew Daniel, niece Judy, and many close friends and relatives.
He was born in Flushing, New York in 1929 and then the family moved to Bayside Queens, New
York in 1941. He was the son of Daniel and Bridget-Ida Donohue.
In his early years, John was a caddy on the Bayside Golf course in New York where he once
caddied for Babe Ruth. After graduating from Bayside High School in 1947, he worked as a
bank Teller, before being drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War. He served as a
cook in the army, and spent the majority of his service in Germany. After being discharged from
the Army, he came back to New York and went to a trade school where he studied Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
He met his wife, Kathleen Donoghue, at an Irish Dance in New York City, and they were
married shortly after in 1957. They spent the first year of their marriage in the Bronx, NY where
their first child John was born. They later moved into a new home in Garden City Park, NY on
Long Island in 1959 where his two daughters Ann and Patricia were born. He worked in New
York City for Slocum-Fuller as a draftsman and then on Long Island for Levitt & Sons as
draftsman for HVAC on commercial and home buildings. The family moved to Arizona in 1974
where he worked for Arizona Public Service involved in the layout and design of Electric
Substations. He spent the remaining part of his life in Scottsdale, AZ where he and Kathleen had
been married nearly 60 years before Kathleen's passing on January 22, 2017.
John had a passion for reading and especially loved American History. He also at times enjoyed
going out to the driving range to hit a "few balls". He and Kathleen liked to travel when not
busy doing things for their children.
A wake will be held in the evening on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary, and the funeral service at St. Maria Goretti's in Scottsdale at 10am on Jan 17, 2018.
Tributes
"Dad life will never be the same without you. I miss you so much. My heart aches to see you again. My only hope is I know we will meet again and be together for eternity. Give a big hug and kiss to Mom. Praise Jesus you are home with Mom."
"Dear Dad, I know you have arrived safely home with Mom, right where you want to be. Your heart is whole again, but ours has a big gaping hole. I love you so much and didn't want to let you go, yet my heart ached for you as you endured through the end. You and Mom were my rock, and I will feel the pain of your loss until we are all home together again carefree in blessed eternity. There will be so many things I miss about you as I muddle through, the comfort of being able to call you when I needed advice on all things mechanical, your intellect and knowledge of the world around you, the conversations over the phone on current events, hugging you and giving you silly names, your beautiful smile and big blue eyes, your unassuming, unpretentious manner. You gave me a wonderful Mother, and together you created so much love in our house, the bond so great that I really never wanted to be too far away. Thank you for taking care of us so wonderfully all these years! I praise God for sending me into the arms of parents that loved, nurtured, and taught me values. Not a day will pass when I don't grieve for u both"