John Patrick McDonnell

John Patrick McDonnell, 82, of Barrington, IL and Naples, FL. John was born in Chicago, IL to Anne and Michael McDonnell, and attended Fenwick High School and Loyola University. He married the late Nancy Phee in 1956 and raised their five children in the Chicago suburbs with Irish music frequently playing. Following Nancy’s death, John married JoAnn Spence in 1976 and added three children to the blended family. John was a business executive in the hydraulics and fluid power industry holding positions throughout the Midwest. John lived a life of gratitude and faith; where there was doubt, he found faith and he knew it was better to give than to receive. John’s greatest happiness was found in family and friends. John was well known for his engaged storytelling and great jokes, matched with his smiling Irish eyes. John is survived by his wife, JoAnn McDonnell (Naples, FL) and his eight children: Jim McDonnell of Houston, TX; Mike (Diane) McDonnell of Naples, FL; Kathleen (Martin) McCracken of Denver, CO; Lynne (John) Rizzo of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Eileen McDonnell of Delray Beach, FL; Jennifer (Brian) Seliger of Madison, WI; Rob (Maureen) Spence of Sun Prairie, WI; David (Dawn) Spence of Delafield, WI; his 10 granddaughters and 7 grandsons. John has been a long time member of Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Barrington, IL and Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Naples, FL. Private services will be held with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to remember John with a song and a prayer or a donation to Saint Anne’s Church, 120 Ela Street, Barrington, IL 60010. Arrangements handled by Gibbons Funeral Home, Elmhurst. 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com