1923
John
2009
John C. McDonald Sr.
March 19, 1923 — October 8, 2009
John C. McDonald Sr., 86, Moorhead, MN, died Thursday, October 8, 2009, in MeritCare, Fargo, ND under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
John Curtis McDonald Sr. was born on March 19, 1923, to John T. and Catherine (Horan) McDonald on the family farm near Hawley, MN. He graduated from Hawley High School in 1941.
After graduation, John entered MSTC (Moorhead State Teachers College) where he played football, basketball and baseball. In 1942, he enlisted in the ERC (Enlisted Reserve Corps) and was called to active duty in the Army in 1943, during WWII, serving as a Combat Engineer. Upon his discharge in 1946 he returned to MSTC.
On April 22, 1946, John married Gretchen Austin in Moorhead. John graduated from MSTC and they made their home in Moorhead before moving to Ortonville, MN, where John was a coach and taught math. In 1956, they returned to the Fargo-Moorhead area where John taught at Fargo Central and then became assistant principal at Fargo South until his retirement in 1985. It was also during that time that John obtained his Master's Degree in Secondary Ed. and Administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and his Master's Degree in Mathematics from North Dakota State University, Fargo.
John was Director of the Fargo Public Schools Summer School program until 1993, was active in the establishment of Trollwood Performing Arts School, and served as President of ND Classroom Teachers and the President of the NDEA from 1970 - 1971. John was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he also sang in the choir.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gretchen, on August 6, 2009. He was also preceded in death by four siblings.
John is survived by five sons, John C. McDonald Jr., Park Rapids, MN, James (Janet) McDonald, Eden Valley, MN, Michael (Debra) McDonald, Fargo, ND, George (Lynette) McDonald, Bismarck, ND and Paul McDonald, Morris, MN; four daughters, Barbara Garramone, M
Visitation: Sunday from 5 - 6 PM with a Prayer Service at 6 PM, Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
Funeral Mass: Monday, October 12, 2009, at 3 PM, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Moorhead.
Burial: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead.
John Curtis McDonald Sr. was born on March 19, 1923, to John T. and Catherine (Horan) McDonald on the family farm near Hawley, MN. He graduated from Hawley High School in 1941.
After graduation, John entered MSTC (Moorhead State Teachers College) where he played football, basketball and baseball. In 1942, he enlisted in the ERC (Enlisted Reserve Corps) and was called to active duty in the Army in 1943, during WWII, serving as a Combat Engineer. Upon his discharge in 1946 he returned to MSTC.
On April 22, 1946, John married Gretchen Austin in Moorhead. John graduated from MSTC and they made their home in Moorhead before moving to Ortonville, MN, where John was a coach and taught math. In 1956, they returned to the Fargo-Moorhead area where John taught at Fargo Central and then became assistant principal at Fargo South until his retirement in 1985. It was also during that time that John obtained his Master's Degree in Secondary Ed. and Administration from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and his Master's Degree in Mathematics from North Dakota State University, Fargo.
John was Director of the Fargo Public Schools Summer School program until 1993, was active in the establishment of Trollwood Performing Arts School, and served as President of ND Classroom Teachers and the President of the NDEA from 1970 - 1971. John was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he also sang in the choir.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gretchen, on August 6, 2009. He was also preceded in death by four siblings.
John is survived by five sons, John C. McDonald Jr., Park Rapids, MN, James (Janet) McDonald, Eden Valley, MN, Michael (Debra) McDonald, Fargo, ND, George (Lynette) McDonald, Bismarck, ND and Paul McDonald, Morris, MN; four daughters, Barbara Garramone, M
Visitation: Sunday from 5 - 6 PM with a Prayer Service at 6 PM, Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
Funeral Mass: Monday, October 12, 2009, at 3 PM, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Moorhead.
Burial: St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead.
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