January 19, 2021

Linn County News

Published Jan. 20, 2021

Joe Donohue, age 81, of Greeley, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at Vintage Park, Osawatomie, Kan. 

Joseph C. Donohue was born on Aug. 8, 1939, on the family farm south of Greeley. Joe was the fifth of six children born to John Donohue and Anna (Landwehr) Donohue. He grew up in Greeley, graduating from Greeley High School with the class of 1957. After graduating, Joe worked at Taylor Forge in Paola. Joe then started his custom hay crew, which led him into his lifelong passion for the cattle business and its associated farming endeavors. On Oct. 15, 1966, Joe was united in marriage to Roberta Hughes. The absolute greatest blessing of this marriage was the birth of their twins, Debra and Daniel who were born on Easter Sunday of 1968. Joe and Roberta owned and operated a number of businesses in addition to farming and ranching, they included Greeley Seed Company, Donohue Trucking Service, Bryan Enterprises Inc. and Joe’s Pens. Joe especially loved the cattle business and meeting people, his business endeavors included many employees, customers and associates, several of them came to be lifelong friends of the family. Throughout his life, Joe’s work was his passion. In his later years, he cherished the opportunity to spend time with Roberta and follow the grandchildren’s activities. Joe’s declining health required him to spend his final months living at Vintage Park. His family will be eternally grateful for the love and care he received there.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Roberta Donohue on June 1, 2020; and a sister, Helen Stuke in 1967.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Deb Stifter and husband, Kevin; grandsons, Dane, Joshua and Justin Stifter of Greeley, Kan.; son, Dan Donohue and wife, Jill of Tulsa, Okla.; granddaughters, Natalie Sieler and husband, Todd and great-grandson, Brady, of Owasso, Okla.; and Nicole Donohue of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers and two sisters, John Donohue of Greeley, Mary Donohue and Margaret Ann “Midge” Donohue, both of Topeka, Kan., and Leo Donohue and wife, Jane, of Garnett, Kan.; nieces and nephew, Lisa Ray, Leah Donohue, Angie Sears, Meridith Lowe and Geoffrey Hughes; sister-in-law, Martha “Bun” Miller of Garnett; brother-in-law, Clarence Hughes and wife, Sandy of Castle Rock, Colo.

A Celebration of Life was held Jan. 18, 2021, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Garnett.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Greeley City Park, and can be left in care of the funeral home, Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 219 S. Oak St., Garnett, Kansas 66032. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.