Richard Sheeran McGONIGLE, Jr.

MCGONIGLE, HOVEY, MAERTENS, GRUMMITT, ANDERSEN, OLSON, LORENZ, AMSPOKER, CASHEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/15/2009 at 08:38:28

July 15, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

CLARION, IA - Richard "Rick" Sheeran McGonigle, Jr., 62, of Clarion passed away Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the Wright Medical Center in Clarion. Funeral services for Rick S. McGonigle will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion with Msgr. John Hemann officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Rick the son of Richard, Sr. and Eugenia (Hovey) McGonigle was born February 5, 1947 in Independence, Iowa. He attended school in Clarion, graduating from Clarion High School in 1965. Rick attended Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls; he then attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota for two years. On August 14, 1971 Rick was united in marriage with Shirley Maertens at St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion. The couple made their home in Clarion where they raised their three daughters. Rick was employed as a fire truck and fire equipment sales representative. He also worked for a time as a broadcaster for KRIT Radio, on the Clarion Police Department and was a photographer. Rick loved Clarion and served his community in various capacities. He loved the Clarion Schools and did whatever he could for the kids. He was a volunteer fireman for 31 years and rose to the rank of Captain. Rick also served on the Festival in the Park Committee for over 20 years and served as Master of Ceremonies for the program for many years. In 2006 he was named as the Grand Marshal for the Festival. Rick also served on various other boards and committees for the community of Clarion. Rick loved the camaraderie with his family, friends and fellow firemen. He enjoyed collecting fire fighting memorabilia and driving his antique fire trucks in parades.

Rick is survived by his wife of nearly 38 years Shirley; three daughters: Tiffany (Wayne) Grummitt and their children Trevor and Malena of Clarion, Ashley (Jason) Andersen and their children Nevaeh and Brycen of Honolulu, Hawaii, Hilary (Alex Olson) McGonigle of Van Horne; his father and step-mother Richard "Dick", Sr. and Esther Lorenz McGonigle of Clarion; sister Patricia (Terry) Amspoker of Fort Collins, Colorado; Aunt Mary Jessamine (Jake) Cashen of Cedar Rapids and numerous nieces, nephews other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Eugenia "Jeanne" McGonigle.