Obituary of Robert Joseph McDonnell

Robert Joseph McDonnell Of Saginaw, Michigan passed away peacefully in his home on July 3, 2015, age 90. Robert was born in Hawkesbury, Ontario to Patrick and Lorenza McDonnell, and moved to Michigan as an infant. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1943 before proudly serving his country in the 79th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Following his return from the war, he attended DeVry University in Chicago for radio engineering. In 1951 he married Marguerite Tittley of Chute-à-Blondeau, Ontario, Canada. Robert was employed by General Motors for 37 years, retiring in 1985. A member of St. Stephen Parish since 1953 and the American Legion Post #439, Robert was an avid woodworker, enjoyed fishing, reading, movies, dogs, and spending time with his family both in Canada and the U.S. Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Marguerite, daughter Mary (NY), son Robert (TX), daughter Laurie Kelley (MA), son-in-law Matt Kelley, and four grandchildren, Maeve, Clare, Nora, and Eoghan Kelley. Surviving siblings are Sr. Irene Mary (SD) and Michael (IL). Predeceased siblings are Edward, Allen, Donald, Lynn, Lyle, Hazen, Patrick, Jean and Mary Lou. Robert's surviving sister-in-laws are Cecile, Mary Jane, Betty and Alice McDonnell, Lucie Gravel, and Jacqueline, Muriel and Louise Tittley. Robert authored DOGFACE: My Experience as a WWII Combat Infantryman, a personal memoir told in his unique, humorous, irreverent voice, published in 2011. A funeral mass with Fr. Andrew LaFramboise officiating will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, St. Stephen site at 10:00 a.m. on Friday July 10, 2015. A pre-service visitation will be held starting at 9:00 a.m. The Rite of Committal will take place at St. Andrew Cemetery and will include Military Honors rendered under the auspices of the United States Army and American Legion Post #439. The family wishes to thank Heartland Hospice and Dr. Rama Mulpuri for their kindness and loving care. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Dominic (St. Stephen site,) the Salvation Army, The Rescue Mission or The Theodore Roethke Foundation. Arrangements are entrusted to the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd. (off State). Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the church or through www.deislerfuneralhome.com.