John Paul Hennessey, Sr., 89, of 207 Crandall Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, January 30, 2009, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, following a long illness. Services: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at St. Matthew Catholic Church by the Rev. Mark Osterhaus, with military honors. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Monday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids with a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 6 p.m. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his wife, Frances; two daughters, Mary (Thomas) Moran or Akron, Ohio and Kathleen (Gary) McCarty of Des Moines; a son, John Paul (Deborah) Hennessey Jr. of Marion; a sister, Mary Elizabeth Valliere of Cedar Rapids; twelve grandchildren, Kelly Moran, Molly (Josh) Lukenbill, Casey and Emily Moran, Brian (Rebecca) McCarty, Bridget (Troy) Blomer, Brandon and Elizabeth McCarty, Keriann, John III, Luke, and Matthew Hennessey; one great-grandson, John Richard Blomer; and numerous nieces and nephews. John was born August 17, 1919, in Castle Grove Township, Jones County, the son of George and Elizabeth (Minnis) Hennessey. He married Frances Tresnak on May 25, 1949 at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in field artillery in Alaska and as a paratrooper in the Aleutian Islands. For 30 years he and his brothers owned and operated Hennessey Brothers Construction, retiring in 1975. John was also a lifelong farmer. He was a 3rd degree Knights of Columbus and a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church. He loved golfing, traveling and spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren. Many will remember him as a very kind and generous man. John contributed to the start and building of Camp Courageous and continued his support throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers, Walter, Merle, Michael, Robert and William. Military honors by American Legion Hanford Post #5. Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous or St. Matthew Catholic Church. A special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Mercy Dialysis Center, Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy and Keystone Cedars for their compassion and excellent care provided for John.