John was born in Green Bay, WI, and was a lifelong Packers fan even after 56 years in Houston. He attended Central Catholic High School, followed by the University of Notre Dame where he studied Economics. (He would always tell his kids “Don’t buy anything if you don’t have the cash in your pocket!”) His support for Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish continued for the rest of his life.
On St. Patrick’s Day of 1960, John met his future wife, Marilyn, on a blind date. They were married in St. Cloud, WI, on November 26, 1960. Despite his sometimes-curmudgeonly exterior, he was a loving husband and father. He affectionately referred to Marilyn as his “child bride,” and for years happily accompanied her on daily 4-mile walks in the Texas heat. John also enjoyed golf and gathering stray golf balls along the way. He was disappointed that none of his children or grandchildren inherited his love of stamp collecting. He had better luck convincing his grandkids that coin collecting was a worthwhile endeavor.
John spent his entire career at Sinclair which later became Atlantic Richfield/ARCO. He was always a hard worker, and a great provider to his wife and children. At home he was a true DIY guy long before YouTube self-help videos existed. He singlehandedly built a garage addition, a hexagonal wooden deck, and miscellaneous pieces of furniture. As he liked to tell his kids, “If you’re going to do something, do it right!”
Even as he got older and started losing his memory, John didn’t lose his sense of humor. As a survivor of multiple bouts with cancer, he spent years repeatedly saying “I’ll be dead by then” at the announcement of any upcoming major event. But his claim of making it to 100 appeared more and more plausible every year. He always had an engaging story or question (sometimes the same ones repeatedly!). He would amaze his family with his ability to spot an abandoned drinking glass (his pet peeve) even though he had lost most of his vision to macular degeneration and no amount of magnification would allow him to read or watch TV.
John was preceded in death by his only brother, Eugene Nolan.
John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Marilyn, his five children, Peter (Elizabeth), Steven (Wenn), Daniel, Teresa (Leo), and Timothy (Victoria), and four grandchildren, Grace, Catherine, Emma, and Jack.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
A funeral service for John will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Sts. Simon And Jude Catholic Parish, 26777 Glen Loch Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77381.
A committal service for John will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023.
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