John N. Quinn

Madison - John "Jack" Nicholas Quinn, age 89, died peacefully Friday, September 19, 2014, at Golden Living Center, Muscoda, Wisconsin. Born on May 5, 1925, he was a lifelong resident of Madison, WI. He attended West High School, University of Idaho while serving as a Quartermaster in the Navy during WWII, and UW-Madison after the war. He married Maryanne Murphy, a native of Ireland, in 1950, in her hometown of Norwalk, CT. Unfortunately, Maryanne developed Multiple Sclerosis soon after, but Jack took care of her, at home, until she died in 1969. Jack figured out ways to travel with a person in a wheelchair long before there were any designated handicapped accessible vehicles. He had a van modified, then shipped it to Europe where he drove with her and their daughter throughout France, Great Britain, and Ireland in the summer of 1967. He married June Larson in 1970; together they had years of enjoyment with her children and friends until June became ill with cancer. Jack tried hard to care for June in the last days of her life, during the fall of 2012. He worked in road construction all his life. First with his father in the family business, and eventually as the inventor of th...[more]

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Apache Twin" and the "Q-2"--two revolutionary designs for portable rock crushers. These innovations were instrumental in the construction of the interstate road system. Jack loved traveling, nice cars, trains, bird hunting, and especially dogs. He is survived by his daughter, Cathleen Quinn-Kinney, her husband David Kinney; grandchildren Jonathan (Amanda) Kinney, Hannah (fiancé David Lampe) Kinney, and Julia Kinney; great-grandchildren, Leyla and Matthew Kinney; brother, Jerry (Pat) Quinn and sister, Nancy (Jim) Wermuth; as well as, step-children Karen Larson, Alan (Laurie) Larson, and Donn (Trish) Larson. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Quinn and Shirley Digney Quinn; an infant sister, Mary Rose Quinn; special aunt and uncle, Margaret Digney Grab and Dr. John Grab; his first wife, Maryanne, and his second wife, June. Friends may call at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church (401 S. Owen Drive, Madison WI) on Tuesday, September 23 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Father Bill Nolan presiding. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Madison. To honor Jack's love of animals, please send memorials to: Iowa County Humane Society, 305 Cty Hwy YZ, Dodgeville, WI 53533.