John J. O'Rourke

John J. O'Rourke
May 30, 1936 - June 15, 2009
Marion, Iowa
Visitation: 4-8 pm with a prayer service at 6:00 pm June 18, 2009 at American Legion Post #298, 625 31st St, Marion, Iowa
Funeral Service: 10:00 am service - with visitation 1 hr. before June 19, 2009 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Graveside Service: 1:30 pm June 19, 2009 at St. Patrick Little Creek Cemetery, near Kinross, Iowa
John J. O'Rourke, was born May 30, 1936, in Keokuk County, Iowa , the son of Maurice and Madge (Griffin) O'Rourke. He attended Hickory Ridge Country School and graduated from North English High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1961-1962. He married Doris Orth in January 1959, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They later divorced. He married Patricia L. Johnson on July 2, 1976, in Toddville, Iowa. He worked for Rockwell Collins from 1955 until his retirement in 1993. In 1981, he graduated from Reisch Auctioneer School in Mason City and had O'Rourke Auction Service, first as a part time job, then full time after retiring from Rockwell. He also worked part time at Grant Wood AEA, since 1994. He was a member of American Legion Post 298 in Marion, the Iowa Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association. John passed away of liver cancer, on Monday, June 15, 2009, at the Hospice House of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, at the age of 73 years. John will be greatly missed by many. He is survived by his wife Pat of Marion; 3 daughters Renee (Ken) Dede of Marion; Ann (Danny) Smith of Greencastle, PA; and Kerri (Michael) Robinson of Ft. Mill, SC; a stepson Wade Fink of North Glenn, CO; 5 grandchildren; 1 great granddaughter; 2 brothers M. Patrick (Lois) O'Rourke of Madison, WI and Kevin (Barb) O'Rourke of Cedar Falls, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents; a son Vincent O'Rourke; a daughter Karmel O'Rourke; and a brother Thomas O'Rourke in infancy. Celebration of Life Service will be on 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 19, 2009, with visitation 1 hour before at the St Matthew Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Fr. Mark Osterhaus will officiate. Burial will be 1:30 P.M. Friday, at the St. Patrick Little Creek Cemetery, near Kinross. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4-8 P.M., with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M., at the American Legion Post #298, 625 31st St in Marion, IA. A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Williamsburg, is in charge of arrangements.