Obituary of Paul Francis McDonnell

Survivors include his 2 sons: Thomas (Maryellen) McDonnell of Sun Prairie, WI, and Gerald McDonnell of Des Moines, 1 daughter Jacque (Keith) Rahe of Dyersville, 10 grandchildren: Greg, Tammy, Matthew, Jason and Justin McDonnell, Amy Phillips, Chelsea and Beau Ellingson, Tyler and Haley Rahe, 2 great grandchildren, 2 sisters-in-law: Marge Sternitzke and Eileen O'Brien, 1 brother-in-law, Ron (Iva) Lang and many nieces, nephews and friends. His wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook on life will be remembered by all who knew Paul. He was preceded in death by his wife Marie, a sister, Mildred Adams, and 2 brothers: Robert and Leo. Paul Francis was born on March 26, 1919 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to parents, John and Aurelia (Powers) McDonnell. He attended Sacred Heart School for 12 years and after graduation enlisted in the United States Army, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry of the 34th Division. Paul was first stationed at Camp Claiborne in Louisiana until World War II began and then sent overseas. The 34th Division was sent to Algiers in North Africa as Security Detachment for Allied Forces Headquarters. During training missions, he lost an eye and was eventually sent to Arkansas where he received an Honorable Discharge in 1945. Paul married Marie O'Brien on Feb. 15, 1947 in Palmer, Iowa and made their home in Fort Dodge. Together they had three children. Paul was employed at Wholesale Foods and the U.S. Post Office and later retired in 1981. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Parish and later St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 130, Northwest Iowa Boat Club and a lifetime member of the Blinded Veterans Assosiation. Paul enjoyed golfing, playing cards, square dancing, practical jokes, spending time with family and friends and his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. In 2002, when his wife of 55 years passed away, Paul moved to the Ellen Kennedy Living Center in Dyersville and later to the Dubuque Retirement Community in Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained until his death. Paul F. McDonnell, 88, of Dyersville, and formerly of Fort Dodge, Iowa died Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the Dubuque Retirement Community in Dubuque, Iowa after a long illness. Friends may call from 3 - 5 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish scripture service will be held at 3 p.m. Friends may call again at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa from 4 - 8 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 2008, where a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. and a parish scripture service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. at the Chapel of Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and 10:30 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial with burial in Corpus Christi Cemetery, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where military rites will be conducted by the VFW Post 1856. Officiating will be Rev. Tim Johnson.