Flynn and Related Families

OBITUARY published in the Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald: Joseph W. Donahoe, 88, of Darlington, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County, following a brief illness. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Rosary CatholicChurch, 104 E. Harriet St. Darlington, with the Rev. Randy Budnar officiating. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery,Darlington. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Steil CamachoFuneral Home, 206 E. Harriet St., Darlington, where there will be arosary service at 3 p.m. He was born on June 25, 1917, on the family farm in KendallTownship, son of Michael and Bridget (Deery) Donahoe. He married Anna McDonald on April 30, 1946. He graduated from Pleasant View One Room School House in 1931, and graduated from Belmont High School in 1935. He worked on the family farm with his brother and often on neighbors farms. He was involved in 4-H projects. In August 1940, Joe attended the Reppert School of Auctioneering in Decatur, Ind., where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Following graduation, he returned to the family farm to begin his auction career, conducting his first farm sale on Oct. 30, 1940. He was inducted into the Army on March 13, 1941, with Company D, 738th MP Battalion. He was discharged on Aug. 21, 1945, after his original tour of duty had been extended to 4 years, 5 months and 8 days. During his Army service, Joe earned the American Defense Ribbon; the American Campaign Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Southern Pacific Campaign Ribbon; World War II Victory Medal; Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star; US Meritorious Unit Award Emblem; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; six overseas stripes and one longevity stripe.
As an auctioneer after the war, one of his first sales was at theSouthern Wisconsin Junior Livestock Show in Madison, in October 1945.He was to continue as an auctioneer at this event for 51 continuousyears, retiring after completing his last sale in September 1995. In 1947, Joe was elected to the City Council of Darlington. That same year, he joined the National Society of Auctioneers, which became the National Auctioneers Association, (NAA) in 1949. In 1969, Joe was elected Director of the NAA and was inducted into its Hall ofFame in 1983. In 1948, in conjunction with two partners, he built the Belmont Livestock Market Sale Barn which is still in operation today. He sold the first livestock sale at the Wisconsin State Fair in1954, and served on the State Department of Agricultural Health Advisory Commission in 1960 and 1961. He joined the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association, (WAA) in 1955,and served as its president in 1959, and 1960, where he was awardedthe first Auctioneer of the Year award in 1962. He was inducted tothe WAA Hall of Fame in 1994. He was elected Commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5268, after having served as Quartermaster of the original establishment of the post. He also served as Commander of the Bates O'Brien Howe Wiegel American Legion Post 214 in 1946; he was the first World War II veteran to be commander. He received the VFW Distinguished Service Citation; Post Commander Citation as All StateCommander; and the VFW National Distinguished Award in 1986. He also was honored as a 50-year member of the local VFW Post and of theAmerican Legion Post in 1995. He was appointed as the Site Selection Committee Chairman for the new Darlington High School in 1963. His career has been a rewarding one, and Joe thanks everyone that contributed to his success. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Darlington. Surviving are his beloved wife, Anna, at home; his children, Mary(Dean) Rugotska, of Madison, Pat (LuAnn) Donahoe and Ann (Bob) Long, both of Darlington, Monica (Dan Lynch) Donahoe, of Saukville, Steve(Kathy) Donahoe, of Livonia, Mich., Kay (Pat Fitzsimons) Donahoe, of Monroe, and Jeff Donahoe, of Vietnam; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Bob Donahoe, in1952, and Dick Donahoe, in 1975; a sister, Cecilia Donahoe; and abrother, Vincent Donahoe.