John Hamilton McDonnell, age 87, passed away on April 25, 2023, at Bethany Home in Waupaca, Wisconsin
where he succumbed to the challenges of living with Alzheimer’s Disease.
He was born in Glendale, California in 1935, the only child of John Lewis and Mary Gladys (Hamilton) McDonnell. John completed his college degrees in the Los Angeles area at Occidental College (BA 1957 and MA 1963) and the University of Southern California (PhD 1970). He devoted his career to teaching and teacher education in California and Wisconsin. In 1968 he and his family moved to Wisconsin where he joined the faculty at Beloit College and retired in 1996. John was an active leader in state and national teacher education organizations and served two terms on the Beloit School Board. John loved teaching and found great joy in following the accomplishments of his students in their careers. His greatest pride came from the accomplishments and contributions of his children, Brett and Evelyn McDonnell.
John was seldom seen without a poodle. He loved all animals and nature. The family spent summers on the shores of Lake Superior near Ontonagon, Michigan, where generations of “Lake People” became his extended family.
John is survived by his wife, Judith Christensen; son, Brett Hamilton McDonnell and his husband Paul Rubin; daughter, Evelyn McDonnell and her husband William Shankle; grandson Cole Hamilton Shankle, step-granddaughters Karlie and Kenda Shankle; and step-great-grandson Shine Hoover.
In 2006 John volunteered to be a participant in a yearly series of tests that followed brain and body changes of people as they age. The name of the study is Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). In 2015 John was informed that changes in his tests suggested that he needed to seek more tests and was diagnosed with dementia.
In lieu of flowers, please support local Alzheimer’s Disease events, or your local humane society or food pantry.
No visitation or services will be held. Informal gatherings will celebrate John’s life as people are together at Lake Superior, California, or at a visit to his gravesite at Crystal Lake Cemetery – Waupaca, Wisconsin.
The family extends their thanks to the Spruce Ridge Memory Care Unit at Bethany Home for their professional and compassionate care over the past three years.
The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be submitted at www.hollyfuneralhome.com, under John’s obituary.