John Robert 'Jack' Donovan

On Thursday December 16, 2010, John R. “Jack” Donovan, age 77, was reunited in heaven with his wife, Susan, who preceded him in death on October 27, 2010. John was born in Milwaukee December 26, 1932, son of the late George and Mary (nee: Jerovitz) Donovan.

Jack graduated from St. Francis Seminary High School “Class of 1951” and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Pharmacy. On July 30, 1960, he was united in marriage to Susan A. Groenewold and they had celebrated fifty years together. Jack was employed for thirty years as the Pharmacist at the Kurten Clinic Pharmacy, working side by side with his wife for seventeen years. He then was employed with WF-All Saints from 2003 until the present.

Among his many services in the area, Jack was a member and Eucharistic Minister of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, a member of the Sertoma Club, serving as president for two terms, Human Service representative for Racine on the Racine-Kenosha Private Independent Council, member of the Racine County Sheriff’s Advisory Board for four years, and a fifteen-year citizen member of Racine County Human Service Board where, in 1992, he was selected Representative of the Year for the State of Wisconsin for his involvement with programs for Alcohol and Drug abuse and mental illness.

Jack was most proud of his thirty- two years of continuous sobriety from 1978 until the present, serving as past president, vice-president and treasurer of the Alano Club of Racine. He thanks God and AA for a wonderful life. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling and softball and later started running. Jack was a member of the YMCA and completed the Lighthouse Run for its first 30 years. He also enjoyed the Rec/Plex, sports on TV, bus trips to Ho-Chunk and working casually on Saturdays at WF-All Saints Atrium. Above all, it was his time with family that gave him the most joy and he will be dearly missed by all.

Survivors include his children, Michael J. (Alison) Donovan, Steven “Rocky” J. (Tara) Donovan, all of Racine, Debra A. (Gregory) Janick of St. Thomas, North Dakota, Lisa M. (Gerald) Drea of Racine; his grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Marissa Drea, Ian and Emma Donovan, Quinn and Sawyer Donovan, Michelle (Carlos) Donovan; his two great-grandchildren, Jonah and Lilliana; sister-in-law, Stephanie Kassulke of Milwaukee, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. Jack was also very close to his work family at WF-All Saints, Ann, Kristen, Gary, Shelby, Amy, Bob, Mike and Matt; and all of the wonderful customers he served over forty years as a pharmacist.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St., with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Wednesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 11 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society have been suggested.
 
The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Richard Odders, Medical Oncologist, for all of his efforts and compassionate care.

MARESH-MEREDITH AND ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine  (262) 634-7888