Joseph (Joe) Alfred McCarthy

Joseph “Joe” Alfred McCarthy Age 86 of Mahtomedi Passed Away on October 20, 2015 Joe was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on October 28, 1928 to Eileen (nee Reilley) and Patrick McCarthy. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Once honorably discharged, Joe was accepted to Purdue University where he studied Chemical Engineering. He was a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity while in college. He met the love of his life, Ruth May Buckway, and they were married in Cleveland, Ohio on September 1, 1951. Work brought them to St. Paul, Minnesota where Joe began working for 3M as a Chemical Engineer and retired after 35 years as a Laboratory Manager. He and Ruth had 7 children together and raised them in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. When he was not working, Joe was involved with many different organizations including volunteering for Friends of the Orphans and Meals on Wheels. He and Ruth travelled a lot and were able to visit five of the orphanages from their Friends of the Orphan Organization. They had the opportunity to travel to South America, Peru, the Boundary Waters, Russia, Africa, Australia, Thailand, Canada, and they even took a kayaking trip when they were in their seventies. The two of them were fortunate to live abroad when the kids were in college and lived in Germany for almost 4 years and India for about 3 months. Most importantly, Joe was a very dedicated volunteer at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church where he assisted with their Capital Campaign, helped conduct Prayer Services, worked with the Junior Achievement group, and was a former Head of Parish Council. Joe and Ruth are often referred to as the “Pillars of the Church”. Joe was a very proud Irishman as he was 100% Irish. Preceded in death by parents, Patrick and Eileen McCarthy; brother, John (Helen) McCarthy; sister, Ailleen (Ed) Smith; and sister, Mary (Scott) Ferguson. Will be dearly missed by his wife of 64 years, Ruth; children, Pat (Cindy) McCarthy of White Bear Lake, Diane (Seichi) Otsuka of Denver, Dan (Kay) McCarthy of Minnetonka, Mary Beth (Doug) Mann of Maple Grove, John McCarthy of Stillwater, Theresa McCarthy-Pohl (Dan Pohl) of Stillwater, and Tim (Tracy) McCarthy of Mahtomedi; grandchildren, Allison Mccarthy, Maiya Otsuka, Nathan Otsuka, Adrianne and Ian Law, Meghan and Dennis Morrison, Aubrey McCarthy, Andrea Fife, Shaun Fife, Domika McCarthy, Brandon McCarthy, Ben McCarthy, Bailey Pohl, Erika McCarthy, Riley McCarthy and Zoe McCarthy; great-grandchildren, Ezra Law and Hope Law; niece, Ann Purdy; nephews, John McCarthy, Ian Ferguson, Bruce Ferguson, and Malcolm Ferguson; many other family and friends. There will be a gathering of friends and family to celebrate Joe’s life on Friday, October 23, 2015 from 3:00-7:00PM with a Rosary Service at 7:00PM at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake. The second visitation will be from 10:00-11:00AM on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at St. Jude of the Lake Catholic Church, 700 Mahtomedi Ave., Mahtomedi, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00AM. Interment at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Cemetery in White Bear Lake.