John
John Thomas (Jay) Donahoe
d. December 7, 2007
John Thomas (Jay) Donahoe age 82 passed away, November 16, 2007, in Hawaii. John was born the oldest of five brothers on the north side of Chicago in 1925. The Donahoes were members of St. Gertrude’s parish. Since Jay’s father was President of the Cook County Draft Board, upon turning 18, Jay immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He became a front gunner on the USS New Jersey and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Theaters.
Upon returning home, he married Mary Catherine Sheehan, and joined his father and brothers working at the Chicago Board of Trade. While working at the Board, he purchased a farm in Woodstock and the first four of his seven children were born. Several years later, in the late 1950s, he and Mary ventured further west to the town of Hanover. It was in Hanover where he met John Balbach and purchased the Sanderson farm just north of town and the Atkins property located west of town on Blanding Road.
Jay’s daily commute began in Savanna each morning where he caught the Savanna daily to Chicago and his job at the Board of Trade. The Savanna train service was eventually discontinued so he drove to and from his job on a bi-weekly basis after finally commuting in and out of Chicago every day for the last seven years at the Exchange.
After leaving the Board of Trade in 1972, he dove into farming full time and built the first of three grain elevators named Custom Corn located just north of Hanover where remnants still exist today.
Several years later he and a partner built Hicks Corners Grain in Gratiot, Wisconsin. They later built a third elevator, which they named Country Side, in Cobb, Wisconsin. It was later destroyed by a tornado. After selling the farm in Hanover in 1986, Jay and Mary moved to Wisconsin briefly venturing further west to their final destination of Honolulu, Hawaii. Although he spent the last 20 years of his life in Hawaii, he never lost interest in the Hanover area and kept up on it's happenings throughout the years. Portions of his ashes will be spread on the farm while the remainder will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Hanover following a Catholic Mass 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007. at St. John Catholic Church, Hanover.
He is survived by his wife Mary, seven children, and one wild eyed stray Hereford cow last seen in 1977 ramming a Jeep pickup in a pasture north of Hanover—current whereabouts unknown.
Upon returning home, he married Mary Catherine Sheehan, and joined his father and brothers working at the Chicago Board of Trade. While working at the Board, he purchased a farm in Woodstock and the first four of his seven children were born. Several years later, in the late 1950s, he and Mary ventured further west to the town of Hanover. It was in Hanover where he met John Balbach and purchased the Sanderson farm just north of town and the Atkins property located west of town on Blanding Road.
Jay’s daily commute began in Savanna each morning where he caught the Savanna daily to Chicago and his job at the Board of Trade. The Savanna train service was eventually discontinued so he drove to and from his job on a bi-weekly basis after finally commuting in and out of Chicago every day for the last seven years at the Exchange.
After leaving the Board of Trade in 1972, he dove into farming full time and built the first of three grain elevators named Custom Corn located just north of Hanover where remnants still exist today.
Several years later he and a partner built Hicks Corners Grain in Gratiot, Wisconsin. They later built a third elevator, which they named Country Side, in Cobb, Wisconsin. It was later destroyed by a tornado. After selling the farm in Hanover in 1986, Jay and Mary moved to Wisconsin briefly venturing further west to their final destination of Honolulu, Hawaii. Although he spent the last 20 years of his life in Hawaii, he never lost interest in the Hanover area and kept up on it's happenings throughout the years. Portions of his ashes will be spread on the farm while the remainder will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Hanover following a Catholic Mass 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007. at St. John Catholic Church, Hanover.
He is survived by his wife Mary, seven children, and one wild eyed stray Hereford cow last seen in 1977 ramming a Jeep pickup in a pasture north of Hanover—current whereabouts unknown.
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