Obituary for Allen Paul McDonough
At 1:00 PM on March 16, 2022, heaven gained one of the best – a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Al entered this world on January 29, 1930 in Sioux City Iowa and was baptized Allen Paul McDonough. He was born as the 9th and youngest child of his parents, Charles and Nellie McDonough. He had three sisters and five brothers.
Al started working at a very early age. At ages 7 – 10, he sold newspapers on the street corners of Sioux City, Iowa. Then from ages 11-18, Al worked at a grocery store, repaired rails for the railroad, building construction, meat packing plants and the Post Office. He worked his way through Morningside College at the meat packing plant, while also playing college football.
Al and his wife Dorothy met in High School when they were in the 10th grade. Their first date was at the Sadie Hawkins dance, where the girls invite the guys. Dorothy invited Al to the dance, at the suggestion of one of her sister Fran’s friends. Al had joked with his friends that he got invited to the dance by an “old hag.” Al’s friends spilled the beans about that comment and that got back to Dorothy -- it almost ruined it. But Al smoothed talked his way through it and she forgave him. From that time on, they went steady and were inseparable. They were those childhood sweethearts that everyone admired.
Al and Dorothy got engaged and then married in 1951 in Sioux City. They had to move up the schedule for their wedding because Al’s National Guard unit got activated. While in the military for two years, Al and Dorothy moved to Bangor, Maine and then to Alexandria, Louisiana. Al and Dorothy then moved back to Sioux City so that Al could finish his last year of college at Morningside College. Al’s first job was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They then moved back to Sioux City for a few years.
While in Sioux City, Al and Dorothy became proud parents of three children, Rick, Jan and Ron. Al and Dorothy, together with Dorothy’s sister Fran and brother-in-law Wally, combined their construction skills to build a duplex for their two families.
Al and Dorothy later moved to St. Louis, Missouri for two years, then to Grand Rapids, Michigan for one year, then to Cleveland, Ohio for five years.
The family then settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1966. The family lived on Rumsey Drive in Ann Arbor for over 50 years, where they had many cherished neighbors and friends. In 1976, Al and Dorothy started their own accounting and financial planning business, where Al was an accountant and financial advisor, and Dorothy was the office manager. Al and Dorothy retired from their business in 2000 to enjoy the good life.
Al and Dorothy loved to travel the country to conventions for their accounting business (GBS) and with their Amway personal care products business. Al took full advantage of his retirement by playing lots of tennis – until he was 89. He was the leader of the neighborhood tennis group, who became close friends. In addition to tennis, his biggest passion, he also worked on his woodworking projects and was a dedicated daily walker.
Al is survived by his three children: son, Rick (and his husband, Dale); daughter, Jan; and son, Ron (and his wife, Lynne and Al and Dorothy’s grandchildren, Matt and Molly).
The family is planning a joint memorial service for both Al and Dorothy on May 14, 2022. The details and additional information will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Al's name to American Heart Association or to the
American Cancer Society.
Al entered this world on January 29, 1930 in Sioux City Iowa and was baptized Allen Paul McDonough. He was born as the 9th and youngest child of his parents, Charles and Nellie McDonough. He had three sisters and five brothers.
Al started working at a very early age. At ages 7 – 10, he sold newspapers on the street corners of Sioux City, Iowa. Then from ages 11-18, Al worked at a grocery store, repaired rails for the railroad, building construction, meat packing plants and the Post Office. He worked his way through Morningside College at the meat packing plant, while also playing college football.
Al and his wife Dorothy met in High School when they were in the 10th grade. Their first date was at the Sadie Hawkins dance, where the girls invite the guys. Dorothy invited Al to the dance, at the suggestion of one of her sister Fran’s friends. Al had joked with his friends that he got invited to the dance by an “old hag.” Al’s friends spilled the beans about that comment and that got back to Dorothy -- it almost ruined it. But Al smoothed talked his way through it and she forgave him. From that time on, they went steady and were inseparable. They were those childhood sweethearts that everyone admired.
Al and Dorothy got engaged and then married in 1951 in Sioux City. They had to move up the schedule for their wedding because Al’s National Guard unit got activated. While in the military for two years, Al and Dorothy moved to Bangor, Maine and then to Alexandria, Louisiana. Al and Dorothy then moved back to Sioux City so that Al could finish his last year of college at Morningside College. Al’s first job was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They then moved back to Sioux City for a few years.
While in Sioux City, Al and Dorothy became proud parents of three children, Rick, Jan and Ron. Al and Dorothy, together with Dorothy’s sister Fran and brother-in-law Wally, combined their construction skills to build a duplex for their two families.
Al and Dorothy later moved to St. Louis, Missouri for two years, then to Grand Rapids, Michigan for one year, then to Cleveland, Ohio for five years.
The family then settled in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1966. The family lived on Rumsey Drive in Ann Arbor for over 50 years, where they had many cherished neighbors and friends. In 1976, Al and Dorothy started their own accounting and financial planning business, where Al was an accountant and financial advisor, and Dorothy was the office manager. Al and Dorothy retired from their business in 2000 to enjoy the good life.
Al and Dorothy loved to travel the country to conventions for their accounting business (GBS) and with their Amway personal care products business. Al took full advantage of his retirement by playing lots of tennis – until he was 89. He was the leader of the neighborhood tennis group, who became close friends. In addition to tennis, his biggest passion, he also worked on his woodworking projects and was a dedicated daily walker.
Al is survived by his three children: son, Rick (and his husband, Dale); daughter, Jan; and son, Ron (and his wife, Lynne and Al and Dorothy’s grandchildren, Matt and Molly).
The family is planning a joint memorial service for both Al and Dorothy on May 14, 2022. The details and additional information will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Al's name to American Heart Association or to the
American Cancer Society.