John Mccabe

John Alexander McCabe
John A. McCabe, 85, Side Lake, died Saturday, May 11, 2013, in his home.  He was born in Hibbing on August 20, 1927, to Lawrence and Grace (LaVaque) McCabe.  John attended Hibbing High School until age 16, when he joined Merchant Marines. He served on many Liberty ships in the Pacific during World War II, and was discharged in 1945.  He attended UMD for two years while working as a butler and spending summers sailing on the Great Lakes.  John and Margaret (Peggy) Clusiau were united in marriage on June 15, 1957. John was a partner in Clusiau’s Oldsmobile retiring in 1986, after many years in business as a salesman and business manager.  Following his retirement, he and Peggy spent winters in Sun Lakes, Arizona enjoying family, friends, and golf, but returned to Side Lake and family and friends every summer.
John always enjoyed life on the water and in his younger days performed with a local water ski group on Side Lake and the surrounding area.  He was an avid golfer and duck hunter, and  he and Peggy were members of the 50 Club enjoying music and dancing, and spending time with friends.  John loved to cook and entertain, and some of his best memories centered around preparing breakfast for friends at the duck camp or barbecuing medium rare prime rib for friends and family on the fourth of July or other events.  A true gentleman, John had the gift of Irish blarney, was quick with a smile, and enjoyed a good laugh.  He had a knack for making the people around him feel welcome and enjoyed the good fortune of the love of his family and numerous friends.  John’s strong spiritual faith helped him keep a positive outlook on life especially in his later years.
John is survived by six children:  sons Kevin (Linn) McCabe of Anchorage, AK, Mickey (Sheila) McCabe of Savage, MN, and Brian McCabe of Side Lake; daughters Shaun (John) Briski of Balkan, Katie (Dalen) Sondergaard of Hibbing, and Erin Ningen of Palmer, AK; older brother Larry (Mary) McCabe of St. Paul MN; sister, Marian (Jerry) Biron of New London, NH; younger brother and best friend Paul (Carol) McCabe of Side Lake; 13 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends in Minnesota and Arizona.  John was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Peggy (Clusiau) McCabe in 2005; and by his parents.

Visitation will be Thursday May 16, 2013, from 5—7 PM at Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing, with parish wake prayers at 6:30.  Visitation will continue on Friday, May 17, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church from 10 AM until the 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial.  Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing.  Memorials may be made to Northstar Hospice.  To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

---