John Gaffaney

John E. Gaffaney, Sr. , 74, Dickinson and Palm Desert, Calif. , died Monday, July 19, 2004, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. The memorial mass is 10:30 a. m. Saturday, July 24, 2004, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Jeff Zwack, celebrating. Inurnment will be at a later date. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. John E. Gaffaney, Sr. , was born August 6, 1929, in Glenwood Minn. to William and Bertha (Linow) Gaffaney. He graduated from high school in Villard, Minn. , attended St. John?s University, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, Department of Mortuary Science. He married Charlotte McLean in 1950 in Glenwood, Minn. They moved to Minot where he worked for Thompson-Larson Funeral Home and Williamson Funeral Home in New Town. In 1960, he purchased the Knapp Garden Center and owned and operated it as Gaffaney Floral and Greenhouse. He was one of the founding partners in Price-Gaffaney Funeral Home, which opened in 1983. He sold his shares in the funeral home in 1988, and moved to Palm Desert, California. They lived there until Charlotte died in 1999. He continued to live there during the winter months. John was a member of the Dickinson Elks Lodge #1137, St. Anthony Club and previously served on the Dickinson Park Board. He enjoyed returning to Dickinson to help his son at the greenhouse and loved to golf. He was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. He is survived by: one son, John Jr. (Pat) Gaffaney, Dickinson; one daughter, Julie (Eric) McGrath, Reno, Nev. ; five grandchildren, Shane, Tyler and Kennan Gaffaney and Madison and Jackson McGrath. ; one brother, James (Donna) Gaffaney, Fargo; three sisters-in law, Harriet Gaffaney, Claris Gaffaney and Darlene Gaffaney, all of Villard, Minn. and special friend, Lu Clubb, Palm Desert, Calif. , who brought joy to his life the last five years. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three brothers, and one sister.


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Burial Date: July 24, 2004
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Saturday, Queen of Peace Catholic Church