Rev. Father John McNamara (1862-1925)

MCNAMARA

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/9/2022 at 17:45:53

From Nevada Evening Journal May 11, 1925 (page 4)

FORMER NEVADA PRIEST WAS BURIED

DEATH CALLED FATHER JOHN McNAMARA AT HOME IN MONONA LAST WEEK.

Friends in the city have learned of the recent death of Rev. Father John McNamara, 63, at Monona, a week ago Sunday, and his funeral services which were held there the Wednesday morning following, at St. Patrick church, of which he had been pastor for some time.

Father McNamara is remembered in Nevada and Colo where he was pastor of St. Patrick's and St. Mary's churches for a few years, before the coming of Father M. Nichols.

The death of Father McNamara was sudden he having been found dead in his bed. He had been failing in health for some time.

He was born in Ireland in 1862, and ordained to the priesthood at the Grand seminary in Montreal on December 19, 1885, by Archbishop Fabre. In 1886 he was assigned to Key West and later was stationed at Nevada. From there, he was appointed to Sanborn. After serving at Sanborn he was again appointed to Key West, and from there, he was assigned to Eldora. In June 1916, Father McNamara was made pastor at St. Patrick's church at Monona, an held this pastorate until his death. Besides his brother Father Patrick McNamara, he leaves a niece Miss Mary of Monona.

Solemn requiem mass was offered. The Rev. Patrick McNamara of Clinton, a brother of the deceased being celebrant, the Rev. James Reapola Davenport deacon and Rev. Daniel O'Meara of Williamsburg, sub-deacon Archbishop Kenne of Dubuque delivered the funeral sermon in which he touched on the life of the deceased and paid him high tribute.

The Rev. Father O'Brien, chaplain of Mt. Carmel, Dubuque was deacon to the archbishop. The funeral was very largely attended. About ninety clergymen came from all parts of the diocese to be present at the funeral. Among them were the Right Rev. Monsignor G. W. Heer of Dubuque, Right Rev. Monsignor Haxmeier of Lansing, Very Rev. Thomas Conry and the Rev. Father H. P. Rohlman, E. J. Dougherty, Peter O'Malley, Kerner and Malloy of Dubuque. The funeral party left Monona at noon for Key West where interment was at 3 o'clock.