John Monaghan

John Monaghan was a dedicated, hardworking man, who devoted his life to doing whatever needed done to help his country, his friends, especially his family. He lived a long and full life, a life full of so many successes, blessings he worked hard to earn, and most certainly deserved. John's greatest success was the large and beloved family he provided for, through his work, his time, and his love.

John's story began on a hot summer day in 1926, in the Windy City of Chicago. On August 5, 1926, John and Mary (Gaittens) Monaghan, a pair of young Scottish immigrants, found reason for hope and celebration, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named John.

John's parents had met in Chicago just after World War I, having arrived separately from Scotland to seek a better life. With the birth of their first child, that life was coming to fruition for them. John was the first of eight children in the Monaghan home, which resided in Lyons, IL. John's father worked in the local foundry, National Malleable Steel Foundry to make ends meet, while his devoutly Catholic mother raised the family.

John naturally was raised with a powerful Catholic faith, and attended Catholic schools, as well. Eventually, with the country stuck in the quagmire of the Great Depression, John quit school in the ninth grade to help provide for his family. He went to work in the foundry alongside his father, and worked hard, just like his dad.

His life was far from all work and no play, however. In 1945, John met a beautiful young girl named Jeanne Anne Kobliska, while roller skating at The Millbridge Roller Rink in Lyons, Illinois, just outside the city. He fell head over heels for the young woman from Forest Park, Illinois, and they soon began dating. On December 30, 1950, the two were married, beginning a wonderful life together, a life full of love and family.

But before the newlyweds had much time together, John was drafted to fight in the US Army overseas in the Korean War. He had watched the heroism displayed by his peers in World War II, and knew it was his time to serve.

When he returned from the service, he earned his GED, and settled in to his new life, with his new wife. John and Jeanne's first home was a little apartment above her parents' home, where they started their large and loving family. Ten beautiful children later, John and Jeanne decided it was finally time to find a bigger house! So the couple built a home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in the western suburbs of Chicago, where they settled in to a wonderful life together as a family, a family that soon included 11 children.

John provided for his family by working diligently at the Continental Bank and Lakeview Bank in Chicago, where he worked early and often, even holding down three different jobs at the bank at one time! He started every day the same way, by reading the paper with his morning coffee on the train in to work.

The family also went camping often together, and John made sure they all went to Sunday Mass together, too. When finances allowed, he and Jeanne enjoyed traveling together, just the two of them. John had other hobbies, like tending to his garden, or reading about the Civil War, or many other subjects, but his top interest was always in his loving family.

When his beloved Jeanne's health declined, he retired from the bank in 1992. He then joined her in Holland, MI. where Jeanne had started their bed and breakfast The Welkom Inn. John showed his commitment to his wife by the loving care he gave his wife without nursing assistance in their home for the next six years, until she sadly died in 1997. He never complained or regretted this time he spent caring for Jeanne.

After Jeanne died, John could have become a recluse, yet instead he made himself get out and meet new people. He was always an excellent conversationalist, and made friends easily. John also enjoyed his solitude, though, and after Jeanne was gone he often went camping by himself, or traveling. He went to Mackinac Island and Florida by himself, and took Spanish classes through St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Holland, too.

Being the devout, lifelong Catholic that he was, John was very involved in the church. He was a member of a Bible study group at St. Francis, and also volunteered his time with the jail ministry for awhile. He also worked for the City of Holland as a public school crossing guard for several years, diligently manning his post at 32nd Avenue and Washington Blvd.

John was a proud grandparent blessed with 25 grandchildren. John was always an important part of their lives and always took part in their important events such as birthdays, graduations, baptisms, First Holy Communions, and weddings. Just last September while John was sick he made the great effort to travel to Jamesville, WI., to attend his grandson John's wedding. As large as John's family is and spread out in five different states, John and his family, always celebrated Christmas together.

Sadly, John died Wednesday, November 08, 2006, at his home in Holland. He lived a long and full life, a life devoted to his faith, and to his family. John was a man who always did what he could, and what he should, and earned all of his many blessings. We were so blessed to have known him. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his son, John 1994, and his wife Jeanne Anne Monaghan in 1997. His family includes: children; Carol and Charles Goldstein of Janesville, Wis., Martin Monaghan of Chicago, IL., Susan and Craig Janusz of Holland, MI., Christopher and Renee Monaghan Alamosa, CO., Mary and Leo Wolski of Glendale Heights, IL., Edmund and Marsha Monaghan of Amboy, IL., Daniel and Kathryn Monaghan of Mission Viejo, Calif., Timothy Monaghan of Holland, Julie and Frank Banigan of Peosta, IA., and Matthew Monaghan of Kalamazoo, MI.; daughter-in-law Linda Monaghan of Janesville, WI.,; 25 grand children; in-laws, Edward and Lois Monaghan of Mountain Home, Ark., Nora and Arthur Heidecke of Stoughton, WI., Frances and Ray Peters of McFarland, Wis., James and Marianne Monaghan of Brandon, Fl., Joseph and Ruth Monaghan of Viroqua, WI., and Mary Duley of Shawano, WI.: several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be 10 am Monday at The St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church of Holland. Burial will be in Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, in Hillside, IL. Visiting will be from 2-4 pm Sunday at Downtown Chapel Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home 29 East Ninth Street Holland, MI.

Memorials may be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Please visit John's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory, upload a photo of him or sign the online guestbook.