Obituary of Thomas Donohue

Thomas Donohue passed peacefully from this life at the age of 93, at home surrounded by his family in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 31, 2008. He was the last child of four, born to James Donohue and his wife, Margret Meechan Donohue in New Milns, Scotland, December 29, 1914. He immigrated at an early age with his family to Zion, IL, which he called home for the rest of his days. He was educated in the Zion grade schools, Waukegan High School (Class of 34), as well as subsequent studies at Lake Forest College. He also studied violin and had a lifelong love for that instrument. Tom spent a year as the leader of Boy Scout Troop 1 and in 1938 took his troop to Ft. Wilkins in Copper Harbor and Isle Royal National Park, MI, an experience he always remembered. He married his beloved wife, Annabella Nisbet Currie on August 17, 1940, a union that lasted until her death 52 years later. He was active in the Swedish Glee Club and Zion Benton Moose Lodge, and loved music, dancing, camping, and traveling. He was a was a devout Catholic and member of St. Patrick's Church in Wadsworth, and was a founding member of Our Lady of Humility Church in Zion. Tom started work at Abbott Laboratories as a mail-boy in 1936. He advanced rapidly and worked as a pioneer in the development of the first commercial extraction processes for penicillin during the early years of WWII. Due to this work, he was never drafted, as his job was classified critical to the national defense. He remained an authority in this field, helping to start new production facilities in Indiana and Puerto Rico. He retired from Abbott in 1977 as a production foreman after 40 years of service. Survivors include his children, Constance (Tom) Allen of Zion, IL, Kathleen (Charles) Stewart of Grayslake, IL, Nancy (Edward) Allen of Kailua Kona, HI, Eileen Donohue of Zion, IL, and James (Amy) Donohue of Rapid City, SD; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one older brother, Frank (Anne) Donohue of North Shore, CA. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; his parents, James and Margret; his sister, Kathleen; and his oldest brother, James; and sister-in-law, Polly Donohue. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 4, 2008 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Congdon Funeral Home in Zion, IL. Funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick's Church in Wadsworth on Thursday, June 5 at 10:30 a.m., with interment following at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park in Zion. Memorial donations are suggested to either the Zion Conservatory of Music for a violin scholarship in his name, or the building fund for the new St. Raphael the Archangel parish in Antioch.