Hugh Joseph McCarron
May 19, 2017Share using:
While at home on the evening of May 19, 2017, Hugh J. McCarron, age 76, was born to eternal life.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2017, at Saint Columbkille Catholic Church with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League. To celebrate Hugh’s life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road.
Hugh was born in Dubuque on April 30, 1941, the son of the late Robert A. McCarron and Julia (Wolfe) McCarron. He attended St. Columbkille’s High School and was a member of its final graduating class in 1959. He began studies at Loras College that fall. In October 1960, he started his career at John Deere, where he would remain an employee in the experimental planning department as a senior engineering processor for 41 years. Between 1965 to 1966 he served in the U.S. Navy and was in the reserves for 4 years.
Hugh married Dorothy Ann Schmitt on May 11, 1968 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dubuque. They had six children Kelly, Amy, Scott, Kate, Mollie, and Megan, all of whom feel blessed to have had him as their father.
Hugh had an inquisitive mind. He loved to tinker with things, whether it was the old cars he worked on or taking something new apart so he could satisfy his curiosity of how it worked. He was a resourceful educator and a person to go to if you needed to diagnose or fix a problem; he often found creative solutions by "rigging something up." The house that he built in 1970 and where he raised his family is filled with examples of Hugh's ingenuity, creativity, and craftsmanship.
When he was not working on a project or solving problems, he enjoyed watching stock car racing, whether it was from the couch or in person, especially the NASCAR races at the Daytona 500 or Kansas City Speedway. At a slower pace, Hugh liked to go on drives and road trips with Dorothy Ann to see different parts of the U.S. Ultimately what Hugh loved most was his family. He looked forward to holidays when everyone would reunite at home. His grandchildren eagerly anticipated his breakfasts, whether he was serving up his French toast or delivering dozens of doughnuts.
Hugh’s family and friends will cherish his memory and forever be guided by the example he set and the way he lived his life.
Hugh is survived by his wife, Dorothy Ann McCarron of Dubuque; children, Kelly (Chuck) Braak of Omaha, NE, Amy (Dan Jones) McCarron of Dallas Center, IA, Scott (Bonnie) McCarron of Aurora, IL, Kate (Chris) McCarron-Cotton of Kansas City, MO, Mollie (Jason Christopherson) McCarron of Clive, IA, Megan (Cory Brown) McCarron of Des Moines, IA; his grandchildren, Abbey, Gretchen, Katya Braak; Madeline, Mallory, Brianna McCarron; Grace, Olivia, Hadley, Chloe, Addison Cotton; and Finn, Natalie, Gabe Christopherson. He is also survived by siblings; Connie Kelly of Dubuque, Therese Lampe of Bettendorf, IA, Michael, Bob, and Dan McCarron of Dubuque, and Kevin McCarron of Marion, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother Patrick.
On behalf of Hugh, the McCarron family would like to express a sincere thank-you to Sandy at Dr. Hermann’s office and to Ron and Sharon Juergens for their love and support.
