Gerald Fredrick Mcdonnell

October 13, 1925 — February 6, 2015

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Gerald Fredrick McDonnell, age 89, of Dell Rapids, died on Friday, February 6, 2015, at the Golden Living Center in Madison.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 2:30 PM Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM Monday, with a Wake Service at 5:30 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.

Gerald was born on October 13, 1925, the youngest of 9 children to John Jr. and Pearl (Lander) McDonnell in Craik, Saskatchewan, Canada. He grew up in Montrose, South Dakota. He entered the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served during World War II. He was the sole support of his mother as his father died when he was 12 years old. After an honorable discharge, he moved back to South Dakota where he met and married the love of his life, Dolores Eisenbeis on November 13, 1950 in Madison. They were married 64 years. Gerald began his career in auto body repair. He expanded to vocational instructor at the SD Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, SD. He owned and operated two McDonnell Body Shops, one in DeSmet, SD and later in Dell Rapids, SD where he retired in 1987. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, the American Legion, and the VFW.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Dolores; children: Kathleen Matthew of Spearfish, Gary (Susie) McDonnell of Algonquin, IL, Patricia Park of Wentworth, Karen (Ken) Rahn of Madison, Colleen (Mark) Jensen of Dell Rapids, and Janine (Reed) Hoffmann of Dell Rapids; 21 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael McDonnell; sons-in-law, Rodney Park and Randy Tiesen; six sisters; two brothers; and a grandson, Kurtis Lee Matthew.

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