John F. "Jack" McGrogan

John F. McGrogan
John F. "Jack" McGrogan, 85, of Butler died Nov. 29 of cancer-related complications.
Jack was a dedicated husband, a loving father, a beloved grandfather, a reliable co-worker and a good friend to many. He also was a devoted servant of our Lord as a faithful member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.
Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mildred "Mim" McGrogan; and six children, Maureen (Ed) Rooch, Margaret (John) Boben, Alice (Terry) Stockwell, Jack (Lesley) McGrogan, Joe (Von) McGrogan and Maribeth (Jim) DeShields. He also is survived by nine grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews.
Born Sept. 8, 1925, in Carnegie, he was the son of Daniel and Catherine McGrogan. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Dan and Hughie; his sister, Loretta Lafferty; and his beloved grandson, Allen Rooch.
Jack graduated from the St. Luke High School in Carnegie, where he played basketball and football. In his senior year, he caught the winning touchdown pass in Pittsburgh's Catholic School League Championship game.
In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a radio/radar man aboard the USS Bullard. In 1945, his ship was engaged in combat off the coast of Japan.
In 1948, Jack married his hometown sweetheart, and they moved to Butler.
Jack worked for Armco Steel for 40 years, retiring in 1988.
Along with the many friends he made at Armco, he enjoyed taking his family to outings at Armco Park and playing golf at the Armco Golf Club. He and his family also enjoyed many summer vacations at Lake Erie and visiting friends along the St. Claire River in Port Huron, Canada.
Exercise and physical fitness were an important part of his life. He was often seen jogging around the athletic field in Butler or riding his bike around Lake Arthur. Another one of his passions was traveling to visit his children in California and Texas.
Jack attended many sporting events throughout his life, including the last football game played in Pitt Stadium and the first baseball game played at Enron Field in Houston, Texas. He saw his beloved Fighting Irish of Notre Dame play a home game against Michigan and a road game against
Stanford in California.
Jack was a long-standing member of the VFW Post 249 in Butler and a member of the Butler Quarterback Club.
He always led by example and was very proud of the city in which he lived. For his volunteer efforts, he was awarded with a "Key to the City" by the Butler City Council.
MCGROGAN - Private interment for John F. "Jack" McGrogan, who died Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, will be at a family plot in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Scott Township. A memorial Mass will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the St. Paul Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler.
The family requests that no flowers be sent to the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack's name to the St. Paul Catholic Church or to Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett St., Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the David J. Henney Funeral Home, Library.