John Patrick McCarthy
Irvine, California.
8 March 1957 – 9 April 2024
Forever in our hearts.
“And in the end, it is not the time in your life that counts, but the life in your years.” A. Lincoln
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Jones & Eden Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and celebrate John’s life from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15th at Unc and Nephs in Washington. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Online condolences for John’s family may be left at www.jonesfh.com.
John was born on March 8, 1957, in Washington, Iowa, the tenth child and seventh son of Bernard and Dorothy (Wilson) McCarthy. From an early age, John was interested in sports, music, and theater. He had remarkable athletic ability. As a child, John was the neighborhood Wiffleball champion; when he played football in the backyard, he never fell, he simply rolled over and bounced back up with instinctive, natural skill. During his high school years, John received more awards than any other WHS graduate – four in baseball, four in golf, and three each in basketball and football. Many remember John as the quarterback of the Demons’ football team, which won many victories, and he set the record for most home runs in a season for the baseball team. John attended the University of Iowa and Creighton University in Omaha, playing baseball for both schools. After college, John decided to move to California.
John married René Lea Thompson on May 13, 1989, in Irvine Lake, California. They had two children: Chelsea Nicole McCarthy Kemp, born January 12, 1991, and Blake Matthew McCarthy, born September 3, 1993. Chelsea is married to Jeff Kemp and they have two children, Capri and Chloe, who adored their daddy. Blake and his fiancée Rhiannon are expecting a child in June 2024.
John owned and operated C&B Installation Inc. where he marketed and installed shutters and blinds. His hobbies included golf, playing second baseman for premier softball teams, coaching Blake’s baseball teams, taping Chelsea’s dance competitions and spending time with his friends and family, especially his adorable granddaughters. John was a well-known drummer for major rock and roll bands over the years.
John enjoyed an enduring relationship with his eleven siblings, including brother Michael McCarthy and wife Jean of Des Moines, brother A. Joseph McCarthy and wife Chi of Houston, sister Monica McCarthy of Des Moines, brother Marty McCarthy and wife Judy of Washington, brother James McCarthy and wife Ann of Clive, brother Marcus McCarthy and wife Mindy of Katy, Texas, sister Mary McCarthy of Phoenix, sister Michelle Brown and husband Blake of Newport Beach, California, 16 nieces and nephews, and 23 great-nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jeanette, and brothers Justin and Jeff.
John gave compassion and friendship to everyone he knew and met. We will always be grateful for the memories and laughter we shared. We all feel that John’s spirit has “gone straight to heaven” and we will all miss his kind and gentle smile.
