Joseph Edward Donohue

Joseph Edward Donohue

November 03, 1926 - May 30, 2016

Joseph Edward Donohue

November 03, 1926 - May 30, 2016

Obituary

Joseph Edward Donohue, 89, of San Clemente CA and long-time resident of Santa Paula CA, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on May 30, 2016 surrounded by his family after succumbing to a severe stroke he suffered on May 23, 2016. Joseph remained ever sharp and active right up until his final week on earth.

Joseph was born on November 3, 1926 in Kansas City, MO to Noreen Cecilia (Ellsworth) and Milton J. Donohue. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Francoise (Roy), daughter Elizabeth and husband Tom Rigney of Tehachapi CA, daughter Margaret and husband David Daniels of Tulsa OK, son Robert and girlfriend Ambher Sprague of Ventura CA, daughter Noreen and husband Jeff Miner of San Clemente CA. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his grandson Dominic (son of Elizabeth and Tom), his parents, and sister Mary Lee Green.

A devout catholic, Joseph spent 3 years in the Redemptorist seminary in Missouri. After that in 1952, Joseph earned his B.A. in English and History from Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Then, in 1969, he proceeded to earn his M.A. in History (Medieval Political Theory) with a minor in Latin from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. His professional career spanned 30+ years including teaching courses in world history, modern history, civics, ancient and medieval politics and humanities. He was an avid reader who enjoyed keeping up on current events and technology even in his final years.

Services will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1015 Baker St in Costa Mesa, CA on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 10:00 am. A public viewing will be held prior to the services at the church beginning at 9:30 am. A public burial will be held at Ascension Cemetery, 24754 Trabuco Road in
Lake Forest, CA immediately following the services. Memorial donations can be sent to a Catholic charity of your choice.

ìLet me go to the house of the Father.î ñ Pope John Paul II

No Events & Services

No Charities & Donations

No Gallery Photos

No Videos

8 responses to Joseph Edward Donohue

  1. Claude Roy says:

    Bonjour à toute la famille. Même si nous n’VONS PAS Ô°TÔ° AUSSI PRÔ°SENT QUE NOUS L’AURIONS VOULU, VOUS AVEZ TOUJOURS Ô°TÔ° DANS NOS PENSÔ°ES. AUJOURD’HUI PLUS QUE JAMAIS NOS PENSÔ°ES VOUS ACCOMPAGNENT.

    Claude Roy( fils de Léandre) Francine mon épouse et mon fils Mathieu vous offre leur sincère condoléance.

  2. France Roy says:

    Francoise et les enfants , je pense a vous et vous embrasse tendrement mes prières vous accompagnent France ,Marie Pierre et Noah xxx

  3. Lit a candle in memory of Joseph Edward Donohue

  4. Suzanne Roy says:

    J’aurais aimé mieux connaître Joseph Donohue. Ceux et celles qui ont eu la chance de passer du temps à ses côtés sont aujourd’hui tristes de le voir parti. Sachez pourtant que vous serez toujours capables de garder une image vivante de cet homme en vos coeurs et esprits. Quel beau cadeau qu’une longue vie! Toutes mes sympathies à tante Françoise et à ses soeurs, et à mes cousines et cousin… / I would have liked to know Joseph Donohue better. Those who had the chance to spend time close to him are today sad to see him gone. But, know that you will always be able to keep a living picture of this man in your hearts and souls. A long life is such a gift! All my sympathies to aunt Francoise and her sisters, and to my cousins…

    Suzanne Wernli-Roy, fille de Guy Roy et Pierrette Nicole

  5. My history teacher in 1970–miss him!

Leave A Condolence

Choose a Candle