Patrick McCarney 1923-2007

PRESLEY, MCCARNEY

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 6/12/2007 at 16:32:55

Patrick McCarney, 84, formerly of Iowa City, IA, died peacefully on Sunday June 10, 2007 at Green Hills Care Center in Ames, Iowa. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday June 14th, 2007 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Kenneth Kuntz officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either the University of Iowa Lettermen’s Club, c/o University of Iowa Foundation, Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52240 or the Iowa State University Lettermen’s Club c/o Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 Elwood Drive Ames, Iowa 50010.

Pat was born May 22, 1923 in Pueblo, Colorado, the son of Patrick D. and Blanche Presley McCarney. He was a graduate of Central High School in Pueblo, and later attended Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa.

During World War II, Pat served in the U.S. Army Air Force. While stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, Pat met June Butler, the love of his life. They were united in marriage on October 20, 1944 in Tucson, and moved to Iowa City following the war.

Pat joined the Iowa City Police Department in 1948 as a patrolman. He rose steadily through the ranks and was ultimately appointed Chief of Police. He retired in March of 1975 after 27 years of dedicated service, and later served as Johnson County Civil Defense Director. In addition, he became involved in real estate in 1975.

Pat believed wholeheartedly in hard work, service to country and community, and helping those in need. Blessed with a gregarious personality and unending optimism, he nurtured a wide group of treasured friends. Moreover, he was a fervid, loyal, and endlessly enthusiastic fan of the Iowa Hawkeye football team, Wisconsin Badgers football team and the Iowa State Cyclones football team. For many seasons, Pat created commemorative photographs and buttons for the families of the Hawkeye, Cyclone and Badger football players, and was known to one and all simply as “P.J.” He was an honorary member of the Iowa lettermen’s club, a charter member of the Johnson County I Club and a fifty-year member of the American Legion. He enjoyed life to the fullest. His friends and family will be forever grateful for his consistent love and support.

Pat is survived and lovingly remembered by his four children, Michael and Elizabeth McCarney of Rapid City, S.D. and their children, Daniel and Sara Harmon and husband Jeff, and P.J.’s first great grandchild, Grace; Katy and Dennis Mayer of Portland, Oregon; Dan and Margy McCarney of Tampa, Florida and their children Jillian, Melanie and Shane; and Mary McCarney and Paul Hartleben of St. Paul, Minnesota and their children Michael, Devin and Garrett.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife June; his parents; one brother, Leo; and two sisters, Emma and Evelyn.

On-line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com