Obituary of Earl McDonnell

View Video Tribute Joseph Earl McDonnell, was born July 22, 1928, at 4th and Bannock Street in Denver. He was the eldest son of Joe and Lana McDonnell. He grew up in the Nazarene faith and in later years, the Presbyterian and Methodist. He recently became a member of the Hugo United Methodist Church. He attended Evans and Fairmont Elementary, Baker Jr. High, and was a graduate of West High School in Denver in 1946. The day after graduation, he entered the Marine Corp, serving 11 months and was honorably discharged at the convenience of the government, since World War II had ended. His ancestors had helped found the town of Byers, a street was named after his grandfather, Leonard McDonnell. Home from the service, it seemed natural to go to Byers. He spent the first year working on his relative’s family farms. In 1949, he joined the work force of the USDA/ASCS, starting a career which would last a lifetime. He married Doris Paine on April 1, 1951. They had two daughters, Gwen Dale and Colleen Gale who were a joy throughout his life as well as their husbands and children and grandchildren. The family moved to Hugo in 1959, where he was offered the Executive Director’s position with ASCS. He joined many Civic Organizations; a charter member of the Byers Lion’s Club, and member of the Hugo Lion’s Club, a member of the Hugo Gun Club, a charter member of the Deer Trail Elks Lodge, a member of the Byers American Legion, and he also served 9 years as Director of KC Electric Association. He was State Secretary for CASCOE for 5 years and was always an avid member. Earl was one of the first members of the Byers Volunteer Fire Departmetn and sereved 10 years, as well as serving 21 years with Hugo Volunteer Fire Department. He served as chief in the two departments for 8 years and made hundreds of ambulance runs as an EMT. After retiring from ASCS in 1983, he invested in property in Hugo and was care taker of the same. He felt he was helping the town by utilizing property that had been sitting idle, thus making Hugo a better place to live. His fun in life was fishing, hunting deer and elk, playing golf, watching TV, some traveling in his motor home, taking his daughters to rodeos, and certainly not last nor least, having coffee with his buddies; twice a day, every day at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. sharp. His primary goal in life was to be a good provider for his family. His own father had been killed in a truck accident when Earl was eleven and he knew the struggles a family without a provider could have. “Good job, Good and Faithful Servantâ€?. He was preceded in death by his father Joe and mother Lana, one sister Rowena Wilson. He is survived by his wife Doris, of the home, sister Leonora (Tom) Smith of Denver, and brother Vern (Donna) McDonnell of Colorado Springs, daughters Gwen (Al) Guadagnoli of La Junta and Colleen (George) Johnson of Colorado Springs, grandchildren Carissa, Danielle, Adam, Nicholas, Natalie, and Anna. Great grandchildren, Izaiah, Matthew, and Jacee; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Memorials contributions may be made on his behalf to the Hugo Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 11 Hugo, CO 80821 or the Hugo United Methodist Church P.O. Box 386 Hugo, CO 80821. Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday December 13, 2006 at the Hugo United Methodist Church with a graveside service to follow that afternoon 2:30 P.M. at the Byers Cemetery. Visistation will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. Tuesday December 12, 2006 at the Love Funeral Home.