Joseph Patrick (Pat) Dolehanty
Richmond – Our wonderful father, Joseph Patrick (Pat) Dolehanty, peacefully left us on January 4, 2021, to join the Lord and lovingly reunite with our mother, his wife Mary Jane. Dad was born on June 3, 1939, at St. Therese’s Hospital in Waukegan, Illinois, to Stephen Daniel and Juanita (Eveleth) Dolehanty. He was baptized at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Waukegan, Illinois, on June 15, 1939.
Dad’s family moved to Randolph Street, and later to 227 NW 3rd Street, in what was then Richmond’s west side. His father retired from Johns Manville, and his mother worked as a private duty nurse. Dad attended St. Mary’s Catholic school, and graduated from Richmond Senior High School on June 7, 1957. He attended the University of Dayton, and then completed Linotype school in English, Indiana.
Dad met his true love in high school, and at 11:00 a.m. on October 10, 1959, he married Mary Jane Maurer, daughter of Harry and Anna Maurer, in a double-ring ceremony at St. Andrew Catholic Church, solemnized by the Reverend Anthony Spicuzza.
Dad worked in the composing room of the Palladium-Item, where his colleagues knew him best as “Dole”. He retired on February 8, 2002, after 43 years of service. He also worked a second job at Paust Printers for several years.
Dad was a loyal member of the Knights of Columbus council #580, and served as Grand Knight. The K of C building on North 10th Street was the site of countless birthday parties, wedding receptions, and family reunions, and always held a fond spot in Dad’s heart.
Dad greatly enjoyed sports, most of all the Cincinnati Reds, Indianapolis Colts, and IU Hoosiers, and he considered himself “world champ” of free-throw shooting and HORSE games in the backyard basketball court.
Mom and Dad purchased a new house in the Rose Hamilton area in early 1968, and were blessed by a decades-long friendship with next-door neighbors Gene and Shirley Warth. Every holiday celebration included some kind of cook-out with these great friends.
Dad was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Mary Jane; his parents, Stephen and Juanita Dolehanty; his big sister Rosemary (Donald) McEldowney, and his big brother James (JoAnne) Dolehanty.
Dad leaves behind to treasure his Irish spirit, his children: Dennis (Lisette) Dolehanty of Muncie; Carole (Mark) Dolehanty, of Bettendorf, Iowa; Darrin (Cherie) Dolehanty of Richmond; and Casie Dolehanty, of Greenwood; grandchildren Rachel, Lacee, Mary, Jake, Leah, and Madeleine; nephew Mike (Deb) Laird; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from the Maurer family; along with dozens of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, all of whom were very special to him.
Our family wants to extend great thanks to Dad’s caregivers at Arbor Trace, especially his pal Tracey Gallagher, who helped Dad keep going every day.
Dad’s funeral mass was held privately at St. Mary’s church on January 9, 2021, and burial service followed at St. Andrew’s cemetery.