William Daley Mackin

Born on March 28, 1925 to John and Josephine (Welch) Mackin in Marshalltown Iowa, he grew up in St. Anthony, Iowa. Bill was preceded in death by his sister Mary C. Mackin, and five brothers, John, James, Joseph, Thomas and Gerard Mackin. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Annette Mackin, his sister, Sr. Therese Mackin, BVM, of Dubuque, IA, his five children, Pat and Tim Mackin, Cherri Decker, Mary Zipse (Mark), Martha Nielsen (Stein), and thirteen grandchildren.

"William D", as his veteran friends called him, was decorated with the Purple Heart for his service in the US Army, in France, during the Second World War. The injury to his leg was a ticket home from the battlefield. During his recovery in a hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, from a re-injury to that leg, he endeavored to meet a nurse- not HIS nurse- his beautiful Mary Annette, whom he married in August of 1948. Then Bill and Mary headed west and settled in Portland, Oregon. Bill graduated from the University of Portland in 1949, and began his career selling insurance. Career aside, his life was dedicated to raising his family, watching every sports event known to man, reading the daily newspaper and faithfully practicing his Catholicism. He was a founding parishioner at St. Mary Magdalene Parish, and piously participated as a reader, choir member and member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Bill's mind was clear and memory sharp up to the end. His family and friends will cherish his many handwritten notes and letters, and will remember his twinkling Irish eyes, his love of Walla Walla sweet onions and the infamous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he often carried in his sport coat pocket.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 9th at the Madeleine Church, NE 24th and Siskiyou, at 10:30 am, with a rosary preceding at 10 am. A private internment with honor guard will be held at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bill and Mary Mackin Endowed Fund at Central Catholic High School, University of Portland or The Madeleine Parish.