Paul F. McDonnell 1919-2008

POWERS, MCDONNELL, OBRIEN, RAHE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/20/2008 at 10:08:56

Paul F. McDonnell

DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Paul F. McDonnell, 88, of Dyersville, formerly of Fort Dodge, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, at the Dubuque Retirement Community, Dubuque, after a long illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fort Dodge. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery, Fort Dodge. Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where there will be a parish scripture service at 3 p.m. Friends also may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, Fort Dodge.

He was born on March 26, 1919, in Fort Dodge, son of John and Aurelia (Powers) McDonnell. He attended Sacred Heart School for 12 years and after graduation enlisted in the Army.

He married Marie O'Brien on Feb. 15, 1947, in Palmer, and made their home in Fort Dodge. Together they had three children.

Paul enjoyed golfing, playing cards, square dancing, practical jokes, spending time with family and friends and his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.

In 2002, when his wife of 55 years passed away, Paul moved to the Ellen Kennedy Living Center in Dyersville and later to the Dubuque Retirement Community in Dubuque, where he remained until his death.

Surviving are his two sons, Thomas (Maryellen) McDonnell, of Sun Prairie, Wis., and Gerald McDonnell, of Des Moines; a daughter, Jacque (Keith) Rahe, of Dyersville; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; a sister; and two brothers.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Friday, February 29, 2008