Memorable Manitobans: John Donohoe (1884-1965)

Dairyman, municipal official.

Born at Dublin, Ireland on 25 December 1884, he worked in the family business before moving to to Canada in 1912. He drove a bread wagon for Canada Bread at Winnipeg before moving to Indian Head, Saskatchewan and working on a farm for a year. He returned to Winnipeg where he married Racy Abenstein (1892-1940) on 23 February 1916 and subsequently had four children: Denis John Donohoe (1916-2007), Maureen Ann Donohoe (1918-2011, wife of Charles S. Pruden), James Patrick “Jim” Donohoe (1921-2009), and John “Blake” Donohoe (1927-2002).

In 1917, he settled in the Petersfield School District where he established a dairy farm. Active in his community, he was a founder and builder of Ste. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church. He served as a Councillor (1941-1947) and Reeve (1952-1957) of the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews. He was a member of the Holstein-Freisan Association, the Milk Control Board, the Selkirk Hospital Board, a life-member (1957) of the Manitoba Diary Association, and Director of the St. Andrews and St. Clements Agricultural Society for several years.

He died at Selkirk General Hospital on 7 October 1965 and was buried in Ste. Anne’s Roman Catholic Cemetery at Petersfield.

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“St. Andrews gets new Deputy Reeve,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 January 1952, page 14.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 October 1965, page 10.

[Photo caption, Manitoba Dairy Association], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 February 1957, page 15.

Obituary [John Blake Donohoe], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 July 2002, page C12.

Obituary [Denis John Donohoe], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 May 2007, page C14.

C14 Obituary [James Patrick Donohoe], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 October 2009, page B12.

Obituary [Maureen Ann Pruden], WinnipegWinnipeg Free Press, 12 February 2011, page C18.

Beyond the Gates of Lower Fort Gary 1880-1981 - R.M. of St. Andrews by the Municipality of St. Andrews, 1982.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 4 October 2019

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!