John Alexander McDonald

John was born February 8, 1932, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Lew and Olive, the youngest of four. After graduating from Wilson High School in 1950, John (nicknamed “Bode”) attended the University of Iowa where he played on the golf team and graduated in 1954 with a BS in commerce and a major in economics. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity. After spending two years in the US Air Force he continued his education at the University of Iowa’s School of Law, earning his JD with distinction in 1958.

John went to work for his uncle in the securities business of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. in Ohio, where he would spend his entire 40-year career, becoming a partner in 1966 and retiring in 1998. For most of that time he lived in Galion and served as the McDonald & Co. branch manager for Mansfield. There, he raised his families and established himself as a pillar of the community. He served on the boards of the Galion Community Center, Galion County Club, Galion Community Hospital, the Ralph Boyd Foundation of Galion. He was particularly active with the Rehabilitation Service of North Central Ohio in Mansfield, helping the hearing and speech impaired. He was a Rotarian and a member of the 51 Club Mansfield.

Along the way, this Hawkeye became a Buckeye fan: John enjoyed attending the Ohio State football games well into his 80’s. He remained an avid golfer until a stroke in 2020 confined him to a wheelchair. He enjoyed memberships at The Golf Club of Cleveland, Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield, Galion Country Club and New Albany Country Club, when he moved to the Columbus, Ohio, area in 2004, upon marrying Patricia. He continued his community service in Central Ohio, serving on the board of the Bexley United Methodist Church. He and Patricia made friends at church, on the golf course (in Ohio and Southwest Florida), around the bridge table, on their many travels and in their neighborhood of Pickett Place. John also made friends and fans on his chair volleyball team at Wesley Woods senior living facility.

John’s siblings, two brothers and one sister, predeceased him. He remained in contact with their children and the extended McDonald clan, participating in the annual reunions as he was able. John has three children: Alexander, Duke and Julie (Michael Detwiler), from his first wife Sheryl Ann Crawford, to whom he was married 1956 to 1976. He has five stepchildren: Brent Gledhill (Katie) and Eric Gledhill (Alyson), sons of Evelyn Kay Walker, to whom he was married 1977 until her death in 2000; and Patricia’s children: Amy Arnett (Ron Budzik), Stephen Arnett (Hollie) and Sarah Arnett (Mark Devol (deceased)). Twelve grandchildren call him Grandpa John.

A visitation will take place on December 20, 2024 at 10:30 – 11:30am followed by a Funeral Service beginning at 11:30am at Bexley United Methodist Church, 2657 East Broad Street Bexley, Ohio 43209.

Condolences to John’s widow Patricia may be sent: Patricia McDonald c/o Amy Arnett, 7416 Lambton Green North New Albany, Ohio 43054-7103.

Consider a donation in John’s memory to the Michael J Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org/give