John Kevin McDonald

Rock Rapids, IA

John Kevin McDonald of Rock Rapids, IA passed away on March 16, 2025 at the age of 77. He was surrounded by his wife of 38 years and all five of his children.

John was born on January 29, 1948 to Joseph and Miriam McDonald in Garretson, SD where he attended the Garretson public school system, graduating from Garretson High School in 1966. John was an accomplished, and well rounded high school athlete. He participated in football, basketball, track and field and baseball, earning many honors and leading Garretson to a number of district championships. Until the day of his passing, Garretson remained a magical place to him. He cherished his time there and often recounted memories of his youthful shenanigans with his friends and family. As years passed, many of the faces and places in and around Garretson were adopted by John’s family and children as center stage for their frequent get-togethers and family outings.

After graduating high school in 1966, John attended General Beadle State Teachers College (Dakota State University) where he studied Education. After graduating, John accepted his first role as a teacher and coach in Glenham, SD in 1971. While his time in Glenham was relatively brief, he carried many of the close friendships he developed there with him for the rest of his life.

In 1974, John accepted a teaching and coaching position at Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, IA. In this role he would teach English and continue his coaching career. Central Lyon became his adopted home and a place he would never leave. In his nearly 35 at years at Central Lyon he had a long list of accolades, accomplishments and honors. He dedicated decades of his time and love to the athletic programs at Central Lyon. In those years, he spent periods of time as head coach of basketball, baseball, track and field and also served as Athletic Director. He is also a member of the Central Lyon Athletic Hall of Fame. While John enjoyed all of his on-field successes as a coach, it was the long-lasting relationships he formed with his athletes that drove him and what he always viewed as his real reward. John took his role as an educator very seriously. He worked tirelessly and pushed students to the absolute limit of their abilities. In later years, former students commonly contacted him and credited his teachings of grammar and general motivation as elements that led to successes in their own lives. In all his years at Central Lyon, John considered the greatest of his accomplishments and joys to be meeting and marrying his wife Polly and having the ability to teach and coach all 5 of his children, Chad, Jennifer, Kelli, Karli and Korey.

After his retirement from teaching, John quickly settled into a very happy life filled with travel and time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren. Many of his most cherished days were spent at the family lake home on Big Sand Lake near Park Rapids, MN. The time spent there may have been the pinnacle of happiness in his life. It was there that he was surrounded by friends and family, and it was there where all could appreciate the greatness of his quick witted and sharp comedic mind, his kindness, his hard work and his soft-spoken love and dedication to all of those whom he loved the most.

John was preceded in death by both of his parents, four of his siblings, and both of his in-laws. He is survived by his wife Polly; son Chad McDonald and his children Lincoln and Chaning; daughter Jennifer Paasch (Brad) and her children Noah, Emma and Addi; daughter Kelli Docker (Ben) and her children Ellie, Brody and Kaycie; daughter Karli Hyde (Tim) and son Korey McDonald. In addition to his wife and children, he leaves behind four sisters, two brothers, many nieces and nephews and a community full of loving friends and “adopted" family members.

A reception will be held Friday, March 21 from 4-8 PM. Family will be present from 6-8 PM. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 22 at 11 AM. Fittingly, both events will be held at the Central Lyon Activities Center Gymnasium where John spent so much of his time and experienced so much joy in his life. He is loved, and he will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Central Lyon Foundation or one of the three memory care support services that have been instrumental in John’s care: Active Generations, Friendly Horizons, and Visiting Angels.