Rev. Jeremiahfrancis Donohue

Reverend Jeremiah Francis Donohue, age 79, of Louisville, passed away on Monday, August 15, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Fr. Jeremiah was born on January 7, 1937 in the Bronx, New York to the late Thomas and Hanna Patricia Cronin Donohue. He volunteered for military service in 1959 and at the end of his first term of service, he opted to become a career soldier. He spent five years as an enlisted man in the Field Artillery as an Artillery Surveyor. He was chosen to attend Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He finished the rigorous 23-week course as a Distinguished Military Graduate, finishing fourth in a class of eighty-four candidates and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army in Air Defense Artillery. He served tours of duty in New Jersey, Oklahoma, twice in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Texas, Alabama and Wisconsin. He retired from the Army in 1979 as a Major.

Father Jeremiah started his second career with the Travelers Insurance Company in 1979 as a Premium Auditor. He served in Louisville, KY., Tampa, FL. , and was selected to work at the Home Office in Hartford, CT., where he spent eight years. He retired as an Assistant Director in 1991. In his retirement years, Father Jeremiah was pleased to volunteer for Hospice for over seventeen years and also tutored GED students in Mathematics. He was a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Church+USA and served his parish as a deacon from 2004 until ill health forced him to resign in January of 2010. He was called by the ECC+USA to become a priest and was ordained on March 13, 2010. He embraced the vocation of housebound hermit and celebrated the sacred mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist when physically able.

Father Jeremiah is survived by his loving wife and spiritual companion, Sara; his children, Marcia Smith (Charlie), Michael Smith (Claudette) and Elizabeth Donohue (Gloria); grandchildren, Tyler, Ryan and Chelsea Cassidy, Justin Smith (Lindsey), Jessica Payne (Sam), Jeremiah Clark (Heather), Thomas Ferguson (Jo) and Lindsay Brown (Danny), Heidi Cravens, Curry Cravens (Tressi), Holly Cravens (Randy); step-children, Kelly Ferguson (Ruth), Kim Cravens (Denny) and Kristy Bond (Lawrence); great-grandchildren, Cadence, Jacob, Leigha, Tayten, Taylor, Noah, Kenton, Adelynn and Beatrix; and a host of family and friends. He preferred the titles Husband, Dad, Pa, Grandpa, Goompa, Pop Jerry to Father and Major.
Father Jeremiah wished to be cremated and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated in October at the Annual Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Church+USA. Burial of ashes will be in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff, KY.

He said before he left that he hoped to see everyone "on the other side". "Remember, God's Mercy lasts until we take our last breath and then His justice kicks in. Get ready for the hour is late! God is so good."

Visitation will be 2-4pm Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, KY., with a memorial celebration of Father Jeremiah's life to follow at 4pm.

Memorials may be made to the donor's charity of choice.

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