Finnegan

John J. Finnegan, 87, of Mendota Heights, Minn., died Saturday. He was born in Butler.

To march from the turf of two foreign wars into the theater of high school classrooms is to possess the selfless fortitude of Major John J. Finnegan, U.S. Army retired.

John imparted wisdom and discipline to countless students and soldiers; his children, Jay, Georgia, Pat, Bill, Shirley and Kathy; their spouses; and 17 grandchildren.

He follows his beloved Chub, his wife of 62 years, by 100 days into the hereafter, ending their longest separation since the Korean War.

Devoted to faith, family and duty, his splendid library and extensive writings stand as testament to the profound wealth of a modest life. Sly jokes, good stories and a mean game of checkers stocked his latter-day arsenal. Even as he leaves us, he stands with a camcorder at the top of the driveway, making the sign of the cross and waving goodbye.

<B>FINNEGAN</B> — Visitation for John J. Finnegan, who died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Willwerscheid West-Heights Chapel</B>, 235 W. Wentworth Ave., West St. Paul, Minn. Visitation also will be held for one-half hour prior to the 10 a.m. Monday Mass of Christian burial at the Church of St. Peter, 1405 Highway 13, Mendota, Minn. Interment will be at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.