John P. Doohen 1936-2012

LAMBERT DOOHEN PETERS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/31/2012 at 17:25:58

Sioux City Journal
30 November 2012

John P. Doohen, 76, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at his residence.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Armand Bertrand officiating. A brief luncheon will be held in the parish hall following the service. Burial will be in St. Mary (Garryowen) Cemetery, Spink, S.D. Visitation will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. today, with a rosary at 5:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com.

John was born on April 25, 1936, in Sioux City, the son of John and Pauline (Lambert) Doohen. He spent his formative years living in Hawarden, Iowa.

On July 21, 1962, he married Rosemary Peters in Vermillion, S.D. John and Rosemary then lived for a time in Madison, Wis., while John attended the University of Wisconsin. Their oldest daughter, Valerie, was born in Madison. In 1965, John began his lifelong employment on the faculty at Morningside College and the family settled in Sioux City. His two sons, Timothy and Stephen, were later born in Sioux City.

John studied as an under graduate student at both the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He received bachelor's and master's degrees with honors from USD. He went on to obtain his Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin. As a graduate student, John was named a Fulbright Scholar and as a result studied for two years in France at the University of Grenoble.

John spent his entire career as a professor of modern and classical languages at Morningside College. He primarily taught French and Russian, as well as instructing international students in English as a second language. He retired from Morningside as the chairman of the foreign language department in 2001.

He was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He enjoyed traveling , fishing, studying military history, watching football and baseball, and attending the many activities of his beloved grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Rosemary; three children, Valerie and her significant other, Paul Joynt of Sioux City, Timothy and his wife, Lynn of Xenia, Ohio, and Stephen and his wife, Kathleen of Ankeny, Iowa; Doohen grandchildren, Brooke, Callie, Catie, John Kelly, John Michael, and Connor; numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends.

An only child, John was preceded in death by his loving parents, John E. Doohen in 1952, and Pauline Doohen in 2002.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools.