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| John Patrick Gaughan |
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| People | |||
| Written by Staff | |||
| Friday, 06 February 2009 09:00 | |||
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John Patrick Gaughan, 89, Fairway, died Feb. 4, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his wife and many children and grandchildren. Born May 31, 1919, in Rantoul, he met his wife-to-be, Geraldine, the daughter of Ethel J. Hunt, soon after. What started as a small-town acquaintanceship in Paola grew into love when the two moved into the same apartment building with their families. Gerry would listen for him to come whistling up the stairs. Then she would rush to a desk by her front door and pretend to write a letter as he walked by. Soon, he proposed to Geraldine, the details of which have been argued for 66 years. He says he got down on one knee and reverently asked Gerry to marry him. She says he tossed her the jewelry box while reading the funnies. Whatever the case, it began a marriage between lifelong sweethearts. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1957 and achieved the rank of Major as a flight instructor to other airmen. He and his wife became the parents of 10 children. In the meantime, the Air Force carried him and his family to Alaska, Illinois, Texas and Colorado. The family finally settled in Fairway, where he worked for and then purchased the Williams-Gaughan Insurance Agency which is now owned by his sons. He attended Rockhurst College and joined the Knights of Columbus, the Serra Club and the Order of Daedalians, and presided over the St. Agnes parent-teacher association. They sent their children through St. Agnes Grade School, Biship Miege High School and Rockhurst University, and insisted that everybody earn a college degree. He loved to show pictures of his children and say, “Ten kids and not a silly one in the bunch.” He and his wife traveled together to County Mayo in Ireland, where his mother’s and father’s families were from, and throughout Europe. For years, they spent their winters in Arizona, where their youngest daughter lives. Naturally, there were also challenges involved in raising 10 children. Through it all, he and Gerry always made each other laugh, and passed that trait on to their children and grandchildren, who gathered around their father in his final days. He was preceded in death by daughter Kathy Ohm and brothers Harry and Dan. He is survived by his wife, Gerry; sister, Mary; children, Pat Brewster, Mike Gaughan, John Gaughan, Tom Gaughan, Mary Setina, Steve Gaughan, Mo Orpin, Jerry Gaughan and Beth Gaughan; 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A rosary will be said at St. Agnes, Fairway, KS, at 7 p.m. Monday, followed by a visitation. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Rd., Roeland Park, KS 66205.
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