John R Moonan

John R. Moonan, retired Blue Earth County Judge, died Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Memorial Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 22, 2007 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato, with Rev. John Wilmot officiating. Burial will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the ECHO Food Shelf or to an organization of the donor's choice.

John Raymond Moonan was born on April 6, 1928 in Waseca. He was the son of Raymond and Florence (Sheehy) Moonan. John was a 1946 graduate of Washburn High School in Minneapolis, where he was 1st Team Allstate in basketball. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas. John served his country in the U.S. Air Force in Korea from 1951-1955. Following his discharge, he attended William Mitchell Law School in St. Paul. John practiced law with his father in Minneapolis. He was united in marriage to Sharlyne Fairbanks on October 28, 1967 in Minneapolis. They moved to Mankato in 1970. John practiced law with Charles and Gus Johnson. He became a judge for Blue Earth County in December of 1988. He officially retired in 1998, though still occasionally judged cases up through April of this year. He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, the Blue Earth County Library Board, and the Mankato Golf Club Board. John enjoyed golfing, fishing, and crossword puzzles.

John is survived by his wife, Shar of Mankato; two sons, Michael (Amie) Moonan of Golden Valley and Robert (Aunyika) Moonan of Colombia, S.C.; two grandchildren, Zachary and Alana; two sisters, Mary Claire (Michael) Jordan of Golden Valley and Marcia Moonan of Hendersonville, N.C.; three nieces, Gretchen, Sarah, and Sheila; nephew, Tommy; grandniece, Maggie; also many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Florence Moonan.