John Peter McGinn, Jr., 69, passed away on December 2, 1997 at his home in Orem, Utah, following complications with a lingering illness.
John was born on July 15, 1928 in Springfield, Illinois to Clara Pogemiller and John Peter McGinn. He grew up in Burlington, Iowa, an outstanding football and track athlete. In 1945 he married Bealah Stover. They were later divorced. They had four children: Linda, Michael, James, and John. In 1958 he married Eileen Christensen. They had four children: Brian, David, Gary, and Michelle.John enlisted in the US Navy in 1945, where he served for 23 years as an officer in the submarine service. He retired in 1970 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his service he lived in Sacramento, California, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, San Diego, California, and New London, Connecticut. His many experiences included crossing the arctic circle on January 29, 1960 aboard the USS Sargo, the first nuclear submarine to surface from beneath the polar ice cap during winter months.
After retiring from the Navy, he completed his education at Brigham Young University and went on to work at BYU in the Student Placement Center. He later served as Director of Personnel for Utah County from 1979 to 1989, being recognized as Utah County Employee of the Year in 1987. He retired in 1989.
He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1959. John and Eileen were sealed for time and all eternity on July 16, 1966 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple. He was a High Priest who loved serving others, serving in many callings. One of his joys was home teaching, which he lovingly completed up to the time of his death.
During his retirement he continued his life of service to others in many ways including acting as chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Center for Women and Children in Crisis from 1991 to 1992. He will be remembered as a kind man who loved nothing more than his family. He punctuated this love in a kind blessing he left with them on Thanksgiving Day, five days before, his death.
John is survived by his wife, Eileen Christensen McGinn, of Orem; five sons and one daughter: Michael Patrick (Judy) NcGinn, of Bedford, Texas; James Henry McGinn, of Long Beach, California; Brian Wayne (Stefanie) McGinn, of Gilbert, Arizona; David Bruce (Lori) McGinn, of Orem, Utah; Gary Allen (Dannielle) McGinn, of Provo, Utah; Michelle (Wayne) Reading, of Orem, Utah. John is also survived by 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter and one son, Linda Kay McGinn and John Peter McGinn III
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 6th at 11 a.m. in the Sharon First Ward, 641 South 400 East, Orem. Friends may call Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 600 East 800 North, Orem, and Saturday at the church from 9:45-10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery with full military rites.
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