Person:Wilfred Donovan (1)

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - July 29, 2005

Wilfred "Bill" Donovan, 82, of 1690 Alpha Ave., died Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Nativity Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Garryowen, rural Bernard, Iowa, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion, Dubuque, Post 6. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof-Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a wake service at 7 p.m. Mr. Donovan was a machinist at John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works for 29 years, retiring in 1985. He was born on Nov. 22, 1922, in Bernard, son of Maurice L. and Rachel (Shannon) Donovan, and resided in Dubuque most of his life. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the Navy from 1943 to 1946 in the South Pacific on the USS Ashland. He married the former Eileen Redmond on Aug. 9, 1949, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Garryowen; she preceded him in death. He was an active member of the American Legion, Dubuque, Post 6, serving on the funeral detail. He also was a member of Nativity Parish. Bill enjoyed time with his family, playing euchre and sports, especially St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Surviving are four daughters, Rose Ann (Joseph) Steinert, of Port Washington, Wis., Ruth Ellen (Galen) Manternach, of Nekoosa, Wis., Rita Teresa Donovan, of Clive, Iowa, and Mary Kay (Pat) Munro, of Johnston, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Mark Manternach, Sarah Wiedmeyer, Katie Martinson, John Donovan and Michael, Teresa and Rachel Munro; three great-grandchildren, Grace and Clare Wiedmeyer and Madelyn Manternach; a sister, Kathleen Kane, of Dubuque; and two brothers, Ray (Doris) Donovan, of Dubuque, and Al Donovan, of Albuquerque, N.M. He also was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ethel Feeney; and two brothers, Gerald and Leo. A Wilfred "Bill" Donovan Memorial Fund has been established.