John Patrick McCarthy

John Patrick McCarthy

Lake Elsinore, Calif.

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life; it’s the life in your years.” A. Lincoln

John was born March 8, 1957 in Washington, Iowa, the tenth child and seventh son of Bernard and Dorothy (Wilson) McCarthy. From a young age, John enjoyed sports, music, and drama. He had remarkable athletic skills. As a kid, John was the neighborhood champion wiffle ball player; when he played backyard football, he never fell, he’d just roll over and bounce back up with instinctive natural ability. While in high school, John earned more varsity letters than any other graduate of WHS – four in baseball, four in golf, and three in both basketball and football. Many remember John quarterbacking the Demons football squad to many victories and he set the record for the most home runs in a season for the baseball team. John attended the University of Iowa and Creighton University in Omaha and played baseball for both schools. After college, John decided to relocate to California.

John married René Lea Thompson on May 13, 1989 in Irvine Lake, California. They had two children: Chelsea Nicole McCarthy Kemp born Jan 12, 1991 and Blake Matthew McCarthy born Sept 3, 1993. Chelsea is married to Jeff Kemp, and they have two children Capri and Chloe, who adored their Papa. Blake and his fiancé Rhiannon are expecting a child in June 2024.

John owned and operated C&B Installation Inc, marketing and installing window shutters and blinds. His hobbies included superb golf, playing second base for top-notch softball teams, coaching Blake’s baseball teams, videotaping Chelsea’s dance competitions, and spending time with his friends and family, especially his delightful granddaughters. John was a renowned drummer for big-time rock and roll bands.

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 Martin 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, his sister Jeanette, and his brothers Justin and Jeff.

John offered compassion and friendship to everyone he knew and met. We’ll always be grateful for the memories and laughter we shared. We all feel John’s spirit has “made a beeline to heaven” and we will all miss his kind and gentle smile.

All are welcome to a reception at Unc ‘n Neph’s in Washington on Thursday, August 15 at 7 pm to celebrate John’s life and share your favorite memories. John’s memorial and visitation will be held at Jones & Eden Funeral Home on Friday, August 16 at 2 pm, followed by gravesite services at Elm Grove cemetery.