Obituary of John E. Donahue

John E. Donahue of Leeper, PA passed away in his home on June 14, 2024, after a long battle with dementia. John was a life time member of Farmington Township Fire department since 1981, and later became an active member of the Ladies auxiliary, until he became ill. John was born and raised in Crown, PA. After graduating from North Clarion High School, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He was stationed on the USS Tripoli for the majority of the four years, where he worked in the boiler room. When he returned home from his service, he immediately went to work for his uncle at the Siegel Coal Company, where he worked as a mechanic. He then went into business as the owner/operator of Donahue Backhoe service. He installed many ponds and completed many excavation jobs in the area. After he closed his business, he had various excavating/mechanic jobs as well as driving truck before he worked for PennDot, in which he retired from in 1999. After retirement, he enjoyed working in his woodshop and doing small mechanic jobs for friends and family. On October 21, 1978, he married the love of his life, Helen Louise (Litzinger) Donahue. He pursued Helen for a long time before she finally agreed to allow him to help her, in which he would not take payment for his help, except for a steak dinner! Shortly after is when she fell in love with him, and married him. John loved machinery and mechanics, as well as his woodworking. He was always doing something and tinkering in his garage to pass the time. He loved solving problems and fabricating anything that there was a need for. He loved having his grandkids around and enjoyed traveling and going for road trips. He was always a person other's could count on to be able to lend a helping hand or help solve a problem. He was loved by anyone who met him. He was always a gentleman and a kind hearted soul. John was preceded in death by his love of his life, Helen; as well as his parents, Mary Louise (Dechant) and Edward Donahue; three sisters Ilene Donahue; Barb Donahue; Grace Ann Donahue and one brother, Frank Donahue. He is survived by his son, Lance Donahue and wife Susan; four grandchildren, Helen-Anne, Lucy, Edward, and Christine Donahue; one sister, Shirley Petrochic and husband Tom of Ohio; one Sister-in- Law, Kathy Donahue of Indiana; and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received on Monday, June 17, 2024 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Borland-Ensminger Funeral Home, Inc. in Leeper, PA. Funeral Liturgy of the Word Service will take place at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 1:00pm with Deacon Michael Dittman, presiding. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Crown, PA. The family would like to recognize the Hospice/VNA of Forest/Clarion County for their support in his final months, as well as the staff at the Clarion County VA office. Please consider In Lieu of flowers a donation The Clarion/Forest County Hospice 271 Perkins Road, Clarion, PA 16214.