JOHN FOLEY JR

John Foley Jr. 83 of Duluth died peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday Jan. 29, 2013.

He was born to John Sr. and Agnes (O'Toole) Foley, Irish Immigrants, in Duluth, June 6, 1929.

John was the only brother of Mary, Margaret and Catherine. John attended St. Anthony's Grade School, Duluth Cathedral and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science. John married Ruth Burlager of Washburn, Wis., Sept. 1, 1951. He was the father of six children all graduates of the former Duluth Cathedral High School. He worked as a pharmaceutical salesman for Wyeth/Ayerest Laboratories for 20 years. In 1970 he began his career as a Funeral Director with the purchase of Foley Funeral Homes and retired in 1994.

He served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. John was a life time blood donor with Memorial Blood Center and a member of Serra Club, Lions Club and St. Raphael’s Church.

He was predeceased by his parents and sisters.

John is survived by his loving wife Ruth of 61 years; children Joan (Per Jarnberg) Foley, Jean (Jim) Anich, Patricia (Rudi) Kurancik, Paula (Dave) Hanson, Tim (Pat) Foley, Charlene (Tony Schwartz) Foley-Schwartz; 11 grandchildren, Per-Michael Jarnberg, Keeley Mendez, Joel Kurancik, Julie Zimny, Lindsey Seipp, Courtney Hanson, Matthew and Lauren Foley, Gabrielle, Gunnar and Grady Schwartz, and great grandchildren Eden and Hazel Mendez and Addison and Nora Zimny.

The family would like to thank the staff at Solvay Hospice House for their loving care of John.

VISITATION: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday with Wake Prayers at 6 p.m. in the Dougherty Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 4 p.m. Friday in St. Raphael’s Church, 5779 Seville Rd. Pike Lake. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Washburn, Wis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Solvay Hospice House, 801 Baylis St., Duluth, MN 55811. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth, (218) 727-3555.

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