Rev. John Robert MCDONALD

MCDONALD, SINNETT, REIS, MCCABE, REITER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/12/2009 at 14:40:10

The Rev. John Robert McDonald, 88, formerly of 718 Crystal Dr. NE, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999, in Stone Hill Care Center, Dubuque, following a brief illness. Services: 10 a.m. Monday, St. Patrick Catholic Church, by the Revs. Steven Rosonke and Gerald Condon. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Eagle Grove. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday.

He was born September 27, 1911, in Eagle Grove, to J.E. and Julia Ann Sinnett McDonald. He attended Sacred Heart Academy, Eagle Grove and Loras College, Dubuque, graduating with a Magna cum Laude degree; he took his theological training at the Sulpician Seminary, Washington, D.C.; he also attended the Catholic University of America, graduating with an M.A. degree in educational psychology. He was ordained on May 22, 1937, by Archbishop Francis J.L. Beckman at St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque. He served as associate pastor in Charles City from 1937 to 1939. He taught at Loras Academy from 1939 to 1943, also serving as chaplain and instructor at Clarke College from 1941 to 1943. He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, with the rank of captain and as assistant to the Chief of Army Chaplains, Philippine Islands.

Father McDonald served as pastor of St. John Parish, Placid, from 1946 to 1948; St. Luke Parish, Hopkinton, from 1948 to 1953; St. Benedict Parish, Decorah, from 1955 to 1960; and St. Patrick Parish, Cedar Rapids, from 1960 to 1969. While at St. Patrick's, he acted as Dean of the Cedar Rapids Deanery, began St. Jude's Parish and with the parishes of St. Ludmila's and St. Jude's, Cedar Rapids, and Holy Trinity, Walford, established LaSalle High School, bringing the Sisters of Charity, BVM, and Christian Brothers from St. Louis as teachers. He was pastor of Nativity Parish in Dubuque, from 1969 to 1970, and St. Paul Parish in Newhall from 1970 until his retirement in 1986. He was a life member of Council 909 and Bowen General Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Margaret J. Reis McDonald of Cedar Rapids; three nieces, Peggy McDonald of Schaumburg, Ill., Jane Anne McCabe of Barneveld, Wis., and Maureen Reiter of Kansas City, Mo.; two nephews, J. Lawrence McDonald Jr. and Michael Reis McDonald, both of Cedar Rapids; and 13 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, J. Lawrence McDonald. Memorials may be directed to St. Raphael Priest Retirement Fund, Dubuque, Iowa.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA)
November 19, 1999