John Ralston Delahunty, 80
Jack Delahunty, age 80, of Red Wing, died surrounded by loved ones at the home of his daughter Kelly after being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in May of 2011.
Jack Delahunty, age 80, of Red Wing, died surrounded by loved ones at the home of his daughter Kelly after being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in May of 2011. He died like he lived, patient with what was unfolding, accepting of his fate, and optimistic. He also maintained good humor and was interested in others right through his final days.
Jack was raised in Freeport, Penn., and graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., in 1953. He married Barbara McClelland in 1954 and then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1957. He was drafted into the Air Force in 1959 and served 2 years at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He completed his residency in pediatrics in Milwaukee and moved to Red Wing to begin his medical career in 1963. He accomplished the goal he outlined in his college yearbook: to become a physician and live west of the Mississippi River. Little did he know then that he would just reach the western bank of the river in Red Wing and know he was home.
A 48-year resident of Red Wing, Jack loved the area and its people. He also loved to travel with his pal Barbara and said at the end of his life that he was happy to have left no travel stone unturned. He was civically minded and, in his almost half-century as a Red Wing resident, he actively participated in many local endeavors, including the school board, YMCA Board of Trustees, the Red Wing Area Fund, Faith in Action, and the Goodhue County National Bank Board. He especially cared about children and found his true calling and his life's work as a pediatrician. He said he had the best job in the world, and he included meeting and working with so many kind people as one of the most important benefits of his career. He was stunned by the number of supportive notes he received during his illness, and he was glad to have learned how much his service to his community was appreciated.
In addition to his parents, Jane and Joe Brant, Jack was preceded in death by his sister Marcia Magnetta; his brother Ken Delahunty; and his son-in-law Kevin Britz.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; four daughters who know how lucky they were to have won the Papa lottery - Jennifer Delahunty of Gambier, Ohio, Jane Lorentzen (Jamie) of Old Frontenac, Kelly Delahunty (Gene Jensen) of Hudson, Wis., and Elise Knapp (Mike) of Welch. He also is survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sally Miller of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Nancy Cunningham of Freeport, Penn.; his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Joe Jordana of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, Bill Stewart of Reston, Va., and Keith Stewart of Junction City, Ore.; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a number of special friends from across his life.
Jack's life will be celebrated at the Red Wing Country Club (where he enjoyed the camaraderie of his buddies) between 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, with a brief program of remembrance at 5 p.m. All are welcome. Memorials are preferred to the local free clinic (CARE Clinic Red Wing; careclinicrw.com), Faith in Action in Red Wing (faithinactionrw.com), or Red Wing Youth Outreach (redwingyouthoutreach.org).
Tags: obituaries
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