Leo Donovan

LEO DONOVAN is the son of Maurice (Mossie) and Rachel Shannon Donovan.

Photo of Leo Maurice Donovan

When Leo Maurice Donovan was born on February 13, 1927, his father, Maurice, was 34 and his mother, Rachel, was 33. He had four brothers and two sisters.

Leo joined the Navy on January 11, 1945, at the age of 17 years. He served on the destroyer, John W. Weeks, in the Pacific Theater.

Leo never married and had no children. He died on February 2, 2005, in Dubuque, Iowa, at the age of 77. He is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Garryowen, Iowa.



Leo M. Donovan’s obituary notice:

Leo M. Donovan, 77, of 3125 Pennsylvania Ave., formerly of 10501/2 University Ave., died at 1:37 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque. 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 Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m. All members and past Chef de Gares are asked to meet at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home for a service of the 40 & 8 Society.

Mr. Donovan was formerly employed at Caradco Mfg. Co. in Dubuque until his retirement. He was born on Feb. 13, 1927, in Garryowen, son of Maurice L. and Rachel B. (Shannon) Donovan. He served in the Navy during World War II on the destroyer,
John W. Weeks, in the Pacific Theater.

Leo was a member of Nativity Parish, the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a proud and active member of the La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux (40 & 8 Society), and was presently serving as the Chef de Gare (Commander) of Voiture 632, Dubuque County.

He was a longtime member of the Dubuque YMCA and exercised daily for nearly 20 years. He passionately loved the St. Louis Cardinals and was an avid fan.

Surviving are a sister, Kathleen M. Kane, of Dubuque; three brothers, Raymond J. (Doris) Donovan and Bill J. Donovan, both of Dubuque, and Alfred C. Donovan, of Albuquerque, N.M.; nieces and nephews; a brother-in-law, William Feeney, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Gerald (Doris) Donovan, of Dubuque. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel Feeney; a brother, Gerald Donovan; and a sister-in-law, Eileen Donovan.

A Leo M. Donovan Memorial Fund has been established.
(transcribed by Erin Gentz)

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