The Rev. Paul C. Donahue

DONAHUE, KING, GOERING, STEBRAL, KABELA

Posted By: cathy (email)
Date: 9/9/2003 at 12:53:27

5-6-2003
Cedar Rapids Gazette

The Rev. Paul C. Donahue, 79 of Davenport, died Monday, May 5, 2003, in the Kahl Home for the Aged and infirm, Davenport. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 220 East Jefferson St., Iowa City, with the Most Rev. William E. Franklin, Bishop of Davenport officating. Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and after 9 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, where the Knights of Columbus will recite a rosary at 5:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Priest Aid Society or St. Mary's Catholic Church.

A luncheon in the church hall will follow the committal service. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

Family and friends may park on the north side of Jefferson Street in front of St. Mary's Church, for the visitation and funeral service.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com by clicking on guestbook.

Father Donahue was born Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1923 in Cedar Valley, the son of Thomas and Nellie King Donahue. His elementary and highschool education was at St. Mary's in Iowa City. He graduated from St. Ambrose College and had attended Loras College in Dubuque. He went to St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. and was ordained on March 12, 1949, by Bishop Ralph L. Hayes of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Keokuk from 1949 to 1961, when he was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt until 1967.

Father was made pastor of St. Joseph Parish, in Bauer from 1967 to 1969 and pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Georgetown from 1969 to 1975. From 1975 to 1987, he served as chaplain for the Sister of the Congregation of Humility of Mary at Ottumwa Heights and chaplain of St. Joseoh's Hospital in Ottumwa.

He lived in residence at St. Mary Parish in Ottumwa for one year before he retired on Dec. 1, 1988, and moved to St. Vincent Center in Davenport.

Father Paul was a wonderful priest to all he served and was a beautifully kind and gentle person who loved to visit with his family and friends and his faith was an example to all.

Father Donahue was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Assembly.

Survivors include a brother, Leo Donahue of Cedar Rapids; a niece, Margaret Goering and husband Richard of Iowa City; six nephews, Paul Stebral and wife Mary Jean of Iowa City, James Stebral and wife Virginia of Solon, William Stebral and wife Judy of Lone Tree, Thomas Donahue and wife Germaine of Logan, Utah, James Donahue of Cedar Rapids and Edward Donahue and wife Beth of Roseville, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Margaret (Mrs. Louis) Kabela and Marie (Mrs. Frank) Stebral; a brother Frank Donahue; and an infant sister.