John Joseph Mackin, Jr

John Joseph (Jack) Mackin, Jr., age 90, Allouez, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at the Hospice of Palm Beach County near his Jupiter, Florida residence. He was born May 30, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, to John J. Mackin, Sr., and Anne Henry Mackin. Following the death of his mother in 1931, Jack lived with his paternal grandmother in Burlington, Iowa, where he attended St. Paul's School. Two years later, his father married Magdalene (Madge) Alliegondes Raymaker and Jack and his brothers returned to Green Bay. He attended Howe, St. John's and St. Patrick's Grade Schools, middle school at Franklin Junior High, and West High and Central Catholic High Schools, from which he graduated in 1943. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which sent him to the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. He was commissioned as Ensign in 1945 and served on the LST 797 during World War II. At the war's conclusion, he returned to the University of Michigan and in 1948, earned degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Jack married Marion Agnes (Marnie) Dorschel in April 1950. They enjoyed a happy marriage for 35 years until Marnie's death in September 1985 in Rome, Italy. They had five children together.

Jack found true love twice in his lifetime. He married Marilyn Denessen Vander Zanden in August 1987, at St. Matthew Church, where they were active members. They celebrated 28 years of marriage together. Jack loved music. He sang in the St. Patrick Grade School and Holy Name Church choirs and was an active member of the Holy Name Society, Catholic Family Movement, Home School Association and was Pack Leader of Cub Scouts at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, as well as an Associate at St. Norbert Abbey since 1988. A daily communicant, Jack was proud to be among the first lectors in the Diocese of Green Bay when he began lectoring in 1967 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. He served as a lector for fifty years at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, St. Norbert Abbey, St. Matthew Parish and St. Willebrord Parish, in addition to St. Jude Parish in Tequesta, FL. He enjoyed hunting and relaxing at his rustic log cabin fondly known as Black Sam's near Amberg, Wisconsin. Jack was also an active member of the Green Bay Wednesday Noon Optimists' Club. He was a devoted supporter of St. Norbert College, Notre Dame Academy, St. Matthew Parish, St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Carmelite orders and many veterans' charities. An avid Irishman, Jack celebrated every day with gusto, but he particularly enjoyed St. Patrick's Day and his Memorial Day birthday.

Following his WWII service, Jack was recalled for the Korean War in October 1950, serving on the LST 1073 in the Pacific Ocean. He was honorably discharged as a Navy Lieutenant in 1952, and worked at Green Bay Food Company, rising to the position of Executive Vice President. While there, he designed their warehouse and conveyor belt system for the pickle plant, as well as a fiberglass pickle tank, which he patented. He left Green Bay Food Company, and formed the Mackin Company, selling machinery, plastic tanks and imported industrial food cutting knives. He retired in 1990.

Jack is survived by his wife, Marilyn V. Mackin; his five children: Mary (Wayne) LaCourt, De Pere, WI; Patricia (John) Cole, Green Bay, WI; Molly (Patrick) Zabrowski, Wauwatosa, WI; Michael (Julann) Mackin, Green Bay, WI; and Daniel (Jennifer) Mackin, De Pere, WI; his five stepchildren: Mary (Jerry) O'Connor, Bonita Springs, FL; Richard (Rayann) Vander Zanden, Mount Desert, ME; Sarah Vander Zanden (Peter Marston) Minneapolis, MN; Kathryn Vander Zanden, Hinsdale, IL; and Jacob (Jessica) Vander Zanden, Dana Point, CA. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Marilyn Fischer, sister-in-law Lois Bourguignon Beisel, cousin Elizabeth Whalen, Deborah Martin, Kenneth Twadell, 29 beloved grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his stepmother, Magdalene; his three brothers, Abbot Benjamin Thomas Mackin, O. Praem, Patrick Michael Mackin, and James Bernard Mackin; his in-laws Ann and Jack Renard, Jeanne and Joseph Dorschel, Edith and Clarence Grognet and two stepchildren, Douglas Vander Zanden and Amy Vander Zanden Twadell.

Friends and relatives may call at St. Matthew Catholic Parish (130 St. Matthew St. Green Bay, WI) Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 4 to 6:45 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the narthex at 7pm. Visitation will continue at St. Matthew Catholic Parish (130 St. Matthew St. Green Bay, WI) on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 9:30 AM. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Military honors will be held immediately following mass.

Interment will be private at Allouez Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be donated to St. Norbert College or St. Matthew Parish.


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