Hugh McKenna

Hugh Joseph McKenna was born on August 2, 1911, in Omaha, Nebraska and passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2007, at Nazareth House in Fresno, California. He was the first child born to Hugh Joseph McKenna, Sr., and Margaret Anne McKenna. Siblings Margaret Mary, Fran, and Jack were born later, and Mr. McKenna was a wonderful brother to them all. His father was with International Harvester Company (IHC) and business needs had the family moving to Denver, LaGrange, Illinois (Outside Chicago) and Topeka, Kansas always enjoying the amenities that these cities had to offer so many years ago. In Topeka, Mr. McKenna attended St. Mary's College High School where he participated in several service clubs, played football and ran track, and graduated in 1930. He stayed in Topeka and attended Washburn University for four years. The family was moving to Los Angeles and Mr. McKenna took a job in San Francisco with International Harvester working in parts, service, and sales. He loved living in San Francisco and the Bay Area and learning daily on the new job. As World War II became a reality, Mr. McKenna enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 30 and served in England and France until the end of the War. He was honorably discharged in 1945, with the rank of Master Sergeant. He returned to the family home in Los Angeles and soon met Dorothy Meyer at a doctor's office. He had tickets to the 1946 Rose Bowl... he asked her to go, she did, and the two were married later that year. Mr. McKenna returned to his job in San Francisco and the couple moved into an apartment in the Marina District. Mrs. McKenna worked at UC San Francisco until their first son, Paul, was born in 1948. Mr. McKenna transferred to the IH Parts Depot in Richmond where he met three men who were later to establish Allied Equipment Co., the International Harvester dealership in Fresno. They asked Mr. McKenna to come work for them so the family moved to Fresno where second son, Jim was born in 1951. Mr. McKenna continued in parts, sales, and service providing for the equipment needs of the farmers and ranchers in the Central Valley. When Allied Equipment Co., was sold, Mr. McKenna went to work for Fresno Equipment Co., the John Deere dealership, and continued to help those working in the agriculture industry. During the years in Fresno Mr. McKenna gave much of his time to the Sequoia Council of Boy Scouts, San Joaquin Memorial High School, The Knights of Columbus, and the great, long-standing community at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. During retirement, Mr. McKenna always saw to the needs of others making sure to visit friends as they aged and bonding with granddaughter Kristy. He was particularly attentive to Dorothy visiting her daily, after she moved to Nazareth House for nursing care. The family wishes to thank the many fine doctors in the Fresno area for their superb treatment and advice during the past year and to everyone at Nazareth House for the care and respect shown to him during his eight month stay. It was a great comfort to him to be able to live at the Nazareth House. Mr. McKenna is survived by his wife Dorothy, of Fresno; son, Paul of Portland, Or.; granddaughter, Kristy of Portland, Or.; son Jim of Fresno; sister-in law, Nell of La Canada; and the spouses and children of his niece and nephews, Kathleen of Colorado Springs, Co.; John of Evergreen, Co., Michael of San Rafael; and Dennis of Los Angeles. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in the Chapel at the Nazareth House, 2121 N. First St. in Fresno, on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. Any remembrances may be made to the Nazareth House or to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. WHITEHURST