Joseph Guy Donohue

Joseph Guy Donohue was born on November 8, 1938 in Ft Collins, Colorado, to Daniel L. Donohue and Ruth C. Rucker. He grew up in Southwest City, Missouri, and was the second in line of 6 sons.  He graduated from Southwest City High School and attended 1 year of college before joining the USAF at the age of 20. While there, he received his education working on commercial and industrial refrigeration and HVAC systems. He continued in his chosen field after receiving an honorable discharge, eventually opening his own company, Donohue Heat and Air, and built it into a successful, profitable business, which he sold upon his retirement. Today, you may still see Donohue Heat & Air vans and trucks around town. Spotting those vehicles from time to time, makes us feel proud to belong to the Donohue name. 

 He married his first wife, Ruthanne Donohue in 1962 and had 5 children. Renee Bergin, Daniel Donohue, Dianne Fox married to Robert Fox, David Donohue, and Debra Donohue, whom all succeed him in death along with his 13 Grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also succeeded in death by his brother Timothy J Donohue and his second wife Charlotte Ann Donohue with whom he spent his last 18 years.

In his early years he lived hard. After one particular drunken night he earned himself a night at the local jail. That night turned out to be a profound and pivotal evening that began his journey with the Lord. He prayed and turned his life over to the Lord promising to never drink again, which is a promise he kept. His born again experience became his true birth date in his heart. 

 As a family man, he was an outstanding provider. We lived in a very nice home, never wanting for food or clothes, he made sure we were taken care of and provided certain luxuries like private schools, yearly vacations and other life amenities. He enjoyed spending his time working, playing racquetball, attending Bible studies, church, and after a full day, enjoyed sitting in his chair, reading the paper, or watching tv. He attended Rhema Bible Institute and was involved with Ed Cole Ministries and often credited Ed Coles teachings and mentorship with greatly helping him to grow in the Lord.

Guy would make a collection out of anything he truly liked. He had a strange fascination with clocks and had several in each room. Yet, even with visible proof of the time in any direction, he would often be heard several times a day asking, "What time is it"? His other collections consisted of rare coins, guns, knives, guitars, antiques, and antique cars.

However his greatest passion was ministry. The foundation of his relationship with God was set on stone because of God's finished work. But relationships take two and he understood that steadfastness and honesty to himself and others, and a willingness to allow God to clean him up by asking forgiveness for his sins, was paramount to a true relationship with his heavenly father. One of the best attributes of Guy Donohue was that he could take it on the chin. When God showed him areas he did wrong, he didn't run. He bowed before his true father and asked for forgiveness, then sought to remedy his wrongs instead of run or make excuses. Of all the things I personally learned from dad, that was the shining example he gave me. He raised his children to love and to know the Lord, and also brought his father, and several of his brothers to the Lord as well. However, his ministry and gifting was his wonderful ability to share the Lord with complete strangers no matter where he went or what he was doing. My father never squandered a moment to share the Lord with anyone. The waitress, lawn guy, stranger in an elevator...he would strike up a conversation and if led would ask within 5 sentences of minor introduction, “Do you have a relationship with the Lord”? And if they said yes, he would say, "that's great, how do you know"? I remember so many of us just being exasperated wanting to get what we came for and leave, but once we saw that God was truly at work we were amazed and felt so honored to call him our dad. He has left an indelible impact on the lives of so many by doing his greatest work and being true to his greatest love...Jesus. He left this world in peace, with his family by his side. Because we know that this life is temporary and he is moving on to glory, we prefer to think of his passing as graduation day.

Visitation will be held 5:00pm-7:00pm, Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Schaudt Funeral Service, 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145. Funeral services will be 1:00pm, Friday, May 17, 2024 at The Bridge Church, 7731 East 119th Drive, Bixby, Oklahoma 74008. Guy will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5111 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145.