John A Donnelly 1880-

DONNELLY, WARE, BROWNING, JACKMAN

Posted By: Volunteer: Roxanne Riggan
Date: 4/14/2012 at 20:09:31

John A. Donnelly, 61 superintendents of mails in Burlington for 25 years, died at Mercy hospital, Burlington about nine o’clock Wednesday night following an illness of nearly eight months.

Becoming ill in March, his condition grew worse rapidly, and he last worked in April. He made two visits to a Rochester, Minn., Mayo hospital undergoing one operation. His condition grew more and more critical the past few days. He had been at Mercy hospital nine weeks.

The son of John and Martha Browning Donnelly, he was born in Winfield, Feb. 3, 1880 and moved to Bonaparte with his family when 14. He was teaching school in that community when he took the examination for post office clerk. He was appointed clerk in July 1, 1903. After serving for some time as a night clerk, he was made superintendent of carriers and became superintendent of mail March 1, 1916. In that capacity, he was second only to the assistant postmaster at the Burlington post office.

He married Edna M. Ware Bonaparte on Nov. 19, 1905. She died Feb. 4, 1924, leaving three children besides her husband. Donnelly married Ethel Jones of Knoxville, Iowa at Nashua, Iowa August 22, 1929. The former Miss Jones taught in the public schools at Burlington prior to her marriage.

Burlington’s official weather observation station was located at the Donnelly home for many years, and the postal official was greatly interested in this work, in the statistics of observing and of keeping such figures. His wife and son also were interested in weather observance. The Donnelly home has been at Fifth and Pine streets for many years.

Active in Church
Donnelly was prominent in First Methodist church work, being a lifelong member of the Methodist church, having been baptized as an infant by his grandfather, a pastor.

He taught Sunday school class of young men of junior high and high school age; long served as a chairman of the finance committee, a post he held until his last illness, and also was on the church board, being director at the time of his death.
He was affiliated with Des Moines Masonic lodge No. 1 Order of the Easter Star and White Shrine.

Widow Survives
Surviving are his widow; three children, John of Cedar Rapids, Ruth at home, and Mrs. D. L. Jackman of New Orleans, La., two grandchildren, Carol and John Thomas Donnelly, of Chicago, Van of Bloomfield, Ia., Gay and Claude of Ottumwa, and one sister, Miss Annabel Donnelly of Okmulgee, Okla.

He was a graduate from Bonaparte high school with the class of 1901 and was President of the Alumni association of this school.

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Following were the members of the family who attended the funeral services: Jay Donnelly of Chicago; Gay Donnelly and family and Claude Donnelly of Ottumwa; Van Donnelly and family Bloomfield; Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Donnelly of Bonaparte; Mr. and Mrs. John Ware Donnelly of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Lois Jackman of Louisiana; and Miss Ruth Donnelly and Mrs. John A. Donnelly of Burlington.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Scrapbook A, page 346, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA