WAYNE R. McDONNELL

FRIES, MCDONNELL, APEL, HENNEBRY, MOHR, CAIN, PENN, PINK, CRAWFORD, SIMPSON, DEAN

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 5/2/2003 at 12:30:14

Wayne R. McDonnell

Telegraph Herald - Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Wayne R. McDonnell, 72, of 1783 Avalon, died Saturday, April 19, 2003, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a St. Anthony's Catholic Church parish wake service at 5 p.m.

He was born on Feb. 7, 1931, in Dubuque, son of Raymond and Violet (Fries) McDonnell.

After graduating from Dubuque Senior High School in 1949, Wayne joined his father in the excavation business and worked with him until his father's death. Wayne then started his own business doing excavating work as an independent contractor from 1957 to 1962. One of his projects being the original Fengler Street overpass. From 1962 to 1974 he continued operating heavy equipment for many of the local construction companies, working on many subdivisions around town and did the finish grade work on the flood wall for the city of Dubuque.

He enjoyed working outside, and took great pride in every project. Wayne was an active member in the union, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 234, and was appointed business agent in 1974. In 1983 he was appointed president of the Local and held a variety of positions. He also was elected vice president of the Dubuque Building Trades Association and to the U.L.P.C. Executive Board.

After retiring in 1993, Wayne enjoyed spending time tinkering around the house, traveling with friends and winning at the casinos.

He married Patricia Apel on April 7, 1951, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Dubuque. Wayne was a devoted husband and loving father of 10 children who will be sadly missed by his family.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia (Apel) McDonnell; his children, Mark (Vicky) McDonnell, of Las Vegas, Nev., Beth (Mike) Hennebry, of Raleigh, N.C., Diane (Dave) Mohr, of Dubuque, Gaelynn (Cal) Cain, of East Dubuque, Ill., Scott (Kelly) McDonnell, of Dubuque, Chera Penn, of Denver, Colo., Mary (Jon) Pink of West Des Moines, Iowa, Lori (Doug) Crawford and Christine (Jerry) Simpson, both of Harker Heights, Texas; and Brad (Robyn) McDonnell, of Omaha, Neb.; 27 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Florence Dean, of Potosi, Wis.; a brother-in-law, Randy (Dee) Apel, of Sheboygan, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Sandi Apel, of Denver.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Joseph Dean.

A Wayne McDonnell Memorial Fund has been established by his family.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Lawrence Kukla, his staff and to Hospice, especially Rose, Sheila and Sarah, for the tender loving care extended to Wayne.