John Francis Donovan

Passed away quietly on the 5th of August, 2011 at the age of 89. He was born in 1922 in Fargo, North Dakota. He was the third of ten children, born of Margaret McGonagle and George H. Donovan. He is preceded in death by his brother, Richard Donovan; his sisters, Ruth (Kenneth) Stewart, Virginia, Jean (Kenneth) Hoskinson, Mary (John) Quigley; brothers-in-law, Bernard McGuire, Jack Leaf, and Ray Haun. He is survived by sisters, Dorothy McGuire, Helen Leaf Haun; brother, Gerald (Maurna) Donovan, and sister-in-law, Eileen Donovan. John attended St. Mark's Grade School in St. Paul and graduated University High School in 1940. He attended the College of St. Thomas, until entering the Army Air Corps where he taught radio communications until the end of World War II. John worked for Donovan Company, founded by his father George in 1920. He worked along side his brothers Richard and Gerald and eventually assumed presidency for 11 years until the company sold in 1986. John is survived by his wife, Eleanor, to whom he had been married to for 63 years. He is also survived by his son, John (Laura) and their children, Sean and Lauren; his son, Peter and his children, Christy, Lindsey and Robbie; his daughter, Martha and her children, Danielle, John (Charlene), Meghan (Fernando) and his 3 great grandchildren. John was active at the University of St. Thomas where he served on the board of trustees for 22 years, and acted as chairman of the executive committee for 4 years. He was given the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award in 1982. He also served on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis under Archbishop Binz and was a trustee of the Catholic Infant Home of St. Paul. He was awarded the honors of the Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and Knight of St. Gregory by the Catholic Church. He loved most of all being around his family, many nieces, nephews, and friends. His favorite recreation was golf, the game rules, customs and competition. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling with his wife, his family and friends. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4-8 pm, at O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home (575 South Snelling Avenue) 651-698-0796. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday at 10 AM, at the Church of the Assumption (51 West 7th Street St. Paul 651-224-7536) Memorials preferred to the University of St. Thomas.