LOWELL—John Eugene Linnehan, a longtime resident of Lowell, 71 years old, died Friday morning at his home, after a brief battle with cancer. He was the husband of Joan A. (Rogers) Linnehan, with whom he would have celebrated their 45th anniversary in August of this year.
He was born in Haverhill, on February 4, 1931, a son of Elsie (Francis) Linnehan, of Haverhill, and the late John H. Linnehan. He was educated in the Haverhill Public Schools and was graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Mr. Linnehan was a U.S. Army Veteran and served during the Korean Conflict. He received the National Service Defense Medal and the Army Occupation Medal (Germany).
He had been employed as an Insurance Broker by John Hancock Insurance Company for over 30 years. He led both the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Institute Fund Raisers, and was in the John Hancock Regional Honor Club for nine years. He was a volunteer at the Middlesex Shelter for five years, and for the Lowell Police Department, Belvidere Precinct, and the Citizens Police Academy. Mr. Linnehan also received a Lowell Sun Local Hero Award. He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church.
Surviving him besides his wife and mother are three sons and daughters-in-law: John S. and Anne Marie Linnehan, of Bailey, CO; Michael E. and Diane Linnehan, of Chelmsford; and Patrick J. and Sharon Linnehan, of Tewksbury; two daughters and sons-in-law: Mary Jo and John Keefe, of Lowell; and Erin M. and Michael McCann, of Lowell; eleven grandchildren: Kathleen, John Joseph and Patrick Linnehan, all of Bailey, CO; Courtney, Matthew and Andrew Linnehan, of Chelmsford; Kayla Linnehan, of Tewksbury; Bridget, Abigail and Elizabeth Keefe, of Lowell and Ian McCann, of Lowell; his mother-in-law: Anna I. Rogers, of Lowell; four brothers: Robert Linnehan, of Hampton Falls, NH; Thomas Linnehan, or Springfield, VA; James Linnehan, of Dracut; and William Linnehan, of Atkinson, NH; two sisters: Dorothy Bang, of San Jose, CA; and Mary Hoyt, of Plaistow, NH.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM on Sunday, June 23rd, at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte. 38), Lowell. His Funeral Mass to be offered Monday, June 24th, at 10:30 AM at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, Lowell. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. Donations in his memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund; 1309 Beacon Street; Brookline, MA 02446-9918.