Obituary of John Francis McNally

John Francis McNally, age 97, of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at the Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. John was born in McNally, Iowa on August 22, 1916, the son of John Charles and Belle Ada (Dale) McNally. He attended UW Madison studying Agriculture. On August 9, 1941, John married Carol N. Ward at St. Raphael�s Cathedral in Madison, Wisconsin. John was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. John and his wife Carol first farmed in Lodi, Wisconsin. They then owned and operated their farm between Fort Atkinson and Cambridge in the town of Oakland for 54 years. John was known for his work as a feeder pig producer and crop farmer. John kept and raised horses all his life. Together, with his wife Carol, he enjoyed their Arabian and various other horses. He also trained Border Collies to help around the farm and his favorite one, Denny, would ride the horse Old Silver. He retired from farming at age 72 and then enjoyed traveling extensively with his wife Carol. John was known for his sense of humor with practical jokes and pranks; and his storytelling. Surviving are his wife, Carol McNally, Fort Atkinson, WI; his children, Molly McNally (Eric Sandberg), Sterling, Alaska, and Patrick (Barb) McNally, Big Bend, WI. Grandchildren, Amber McNally Sandberg, Bend, Oregon; Tobias John (Kimberly) McNally Sandberg, Girdwood, Alaska, Sean McNally Sandberg, Sterling, Alaska, and Paul Forrer, California; and a sister-in-law, Shirley McNally, Santa Fe, NM. He is further survived by nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his siblings James Jerome McNally, Mary (Dick) Heilman, Margaret (Bob) Wilson, and Ruth (Jay) Brown; Uncle Ray McNally, and Aunts Grace, Helen, Ruth, and Edna. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 12:00PM at St Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd., Fort Atkinson, WI with Father Brian Wilk celebrating. Interment will be immediately following Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Friends may call after 11:00AM on Tuesday, November 12th at the church until the time of the Mass. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, WI is assisting the family. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Visiting Angels, Dick Meier and family, Luanne and Mike Schindler, and the many neighbors and church members who visited often. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson, WI.