Roscoe "Mac" McDonald

roscoe mcdonald
Roscoe “Mac” McDonald, age 86, of New Hampton, IA, died Saturday, October 31, 2020 at home surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. PLEASE JOIN THE FAMILY WEDNESDAY at 10:00 A.M.VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ON THE CONWAY-MARKHAM FUNERAL HOMES FACEBOOK PAGE. Interment with military honors will follow the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Hampton. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Conway- Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton with a 7 PM scripture wake service. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass on Wednesday. Roscoe Hugh McDonald was born July 13, 1934 in Atlantic, IA. He was the only child of True and Ruth (Eyerly) McDonald. In 1937, the family moved to Mason City. Mac would make his family laugh with childhood stories of being disciplined at school by his mom, who was a teacher, and enjoying real cherry Cokes at the counter of his dad’s pharmacy after school. After graduating from Mason City High School in 1952, he enrolled at the University of Iowa. In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1956, Mac returned to Iowa and got a job with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s office in New Hampton in 1957 where he worked for the next 39 years. While having lunch at Holly’s Cafe on Main Street in New Hampton, a young local waitress named Sharon Nosbisch caught Mac’s eye and would become the love of his life. On June 2, 1962, Mac and Sharon were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Hampton. It was the beginning of a loving marriage that lasted 58 years and produced four children – Lori, Pam, Brian, Cory – and 12 wonderful grandchildren. Mac and his “Angel,” his nickname for Sharon, would call New Hampton home for the rest of their lives. Mac was known by all who met him as a smiling, friendly, nice, and decent man. His faith, his family, and his friends were most important to Mac. As a proud convert to the Catholic faith, Mac was very active in his church for decades serving as a Eucharistic minister, lector, hospitality greeter, and parish council member. Mac was a devoted and loving husband and a supportive and generous dad. He loved spending time with his family providing lasting memories of fun get-togethers, big Christmas celebrations, and countless grill outs. In retirement, he enjoyed watching the school activities of his grandchildren. Mac loved to have a good time with his many friends throughout his life whether at the bowling alley, river, card club, golf course, or casino. After retiring from the DOT in 1997, he dedicated his time to volunteer work in the community. Mac and Sharon enjoyed taking numerous bus trips and eventually achieved their goal of visiting all 50 states. He was an avid supporter of all New Hampton High School sports, especially Chickasaw Baseball, to the very end of his life as well as being a life-long fan of his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. In his free time, Mac liked to draw, color, and maintain various collections with meticulous perfectionism. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mac is survived by his wife Sharon; 2 daughters, Lori McDonald of New Hampton, Pam (Kevin) Hromidko of Coggon, IA; 2 sons, Brian (Tina) McDonald of Chanhassen, MN, Cory (Shelly) McDonald of New Hampton; 12 grandchildren – Zach/Tyler/Ryan/Conner (Lori), Brady/Erica (Pam), Whitley/Kailee (Brian), Cole/Alison/Hope/Jacob (Cory).

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  1. My sincere sympathy Sharon to you and all your family. I also lost a great friend. Mac was one person who always had a smile and good word to say and you knew he was sincere when talking to you. Thank you Mac for staying our friend.

  2. My sincere sympathies to the whole McDonald family. He was such a good person. Knew him from when he worked at Highway Commission office and I worked for JimO’Donohoe. Both offices were above the now Bennett Pharmacy and yes right across from the cafe where he met Sharon. May he Rest In Peace.

  3. Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers for the loss of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was never without a smile and always had kind word to say! He will be dearly missed by so many! Dave and Paula Meskimen

  4. Our sympathy to Sharon and all of Mac,s family,he will be missed by many in New Hampton,he always had a smile for everyone.Prayers for the family. Tom and Marian Gebel

  5. Sharon and family – we are so sorry for your loss. Mac was such a gentle man and so kind. Our prayers are with your family.

  6. Sharon and family, Sympathy and prayers to you and your entire family . Mac was such a friendly and quiet man. He will be missed by many in the community and his church community.

  7. Sharon and the entire McDonald family, you have my deepest sympathy. I remember Mac very well when I was Housing Director and he was one of my board members. I always enjoyed visiting with him. Prayers!

  8. Sharon, so sorry for your loss. Mac was one of a kind and will be truly missed. Prayers to you and your family.

  9. Think of you all Shelly McDonald. So sorry for your loss. I got to know Mac when he volunteered at the hospital. Such a sweet man.

  10. We are so very sorry to hear of your loss❤ Mac will be missed by all as an amazing family man and member of this community❤ Praying for your family❤ – Shirley and Lydia Gessner

  11. I always loved visiting with Mac, he always had a smile to share. I will miss seeing him in church! Prayers and sympathy to all his family.

  12. I am sending my deepest condolences to all of u. Roscoe was a gem, and he made u feel special when u were in his presence. God bless u and be with u.

  13. In loving memory of Roscoe McDonald. With love & friendship of his daughter Pam, From:Rhonda & Dan Turcotte, Joan & Barry Detloff, Vicky & Kevin Mann

  14. Mac always had a smile. He was fun to be around at the bowling alley or wherever you saw him. He was a good man!!

  15. My condolences to the family of Mac…I got to know Mac while I was in college working for the Iowa Department of Education during the summers. I thoroughly enjoyed his banter with me and others about all subjects. He had a continual smile and good sense of humor. I hadn’t seen Mac in about 45+ years and ran into him at a NHHS graduation of my niece and he remembered me as if a day hadn’t passed! New Hampton lost a valuable part of the community!! Darrel Lang

  16. My sympathy to Cory and the rest of the McDonald family in the loss of a father, husband and grandfather .

  17. Regards to the whole family. I did not know him well but he was always friendly and kind when we would see him at community events.

  18. Sharon and Family, Our deepest sympathy goes out to you all. Always enjoyed the times that we visited with Mac.

  19. Sharon, our thoughts and prayers for Mac and our condolences in a great loss. You and Mac have been shining examples of faithful Catholic living. God bless all your family! Patty & Bud Mowatt

  20. So sorry for your loss. Mac was a kind soul who always had a good word for me and others. He will be missed by many.

  21. Having worked with Mac probably all 39 of those years he taught you how to be a plant monitor. I enjoyed being around him and his positive attitude. His smile was contagious. We will really miss him. Ug

  22. I will forever remember all the good times we shared during the years you and Mac bowled at Bowlaway Lanes. Parties, etc. A good time was had by all. Mac and Skeeter were two of a kind.

  23. I will never forget your kind and gentle soul. You are an example for all. Your smile and laugh will always be remembered by all. I love you!

  24. My deepest sympathies to the entire McDonald family. Roscoe was such a good hearted man. I remember watching Letterman “stupid pet tricks” with Mac… we laughed all night long. 🙂 Gone but not forgotten. Rest In Peace Mac!

  25. My sympathy to all of Mac’s family! He was a man with a constant smile! Always spoke to you when he saw you! Lori and Pam I remember when you two baby sat for my son Adam in the early 80’s when I would see your Dad he would ask if his girls were taking good care of him!

  26. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Sharon and your family. Mac always had smile on his face always a fun guy! He will be missed. Don and Tudy Lockwood

  27. Sharon and family: You have my sympathy in the loss of Mac, may he rest in peace. Mac was such a friendly person and I enjoyed visiting with him about his sport of baseball. He relished each game he could attend and could practically give a play by play account of it days later! He will be missed.

  28. Sharon, Cory and family, So sorry to hear of Mac’s passing. It was fun to connect with the family during Cory’s time at Wartburg, and in reading the obituary, I was reminded how little dust Mac allowed to settle between high school commencement and marrying his Class of ’62 sweetheart. May your great memories and strong faith provide comfort in this time of grief.

  29. Thinking of you Mac & Sharon, and your entirely wonderful McDonald family. Love & best wishes always.

  30. Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.

  31. May the memories of your loved one console you in the next days. Was an honor to see him in church, he was a great man. All our prayers to his family. Jeanne and David Roder

  32. Our condolences to your entire family ~ especially Lori and Cory, AKA Coach Mac. We never had the privilege to get to know Mac but if he’s anything like Lori and Coach Mac, he was a pretty awesome guy! Our sympathies to all of you. Marsha, Tatum, Tanner, Brock #15 “Jenk” and Noah #5 “Jenk”

  33. Sharon and family: We are saddened to hear of Mac’s passing. So many fond memories of you and Mac during our bowling years! That smile on his face always made you wonder what he was up to! Hugs

  34. Sorry to hear that Mac past away. Always liked him, happy, always with a smile and a laugh. Will say prayers for him and the family.

  35. Sharon and family-Such great memories I have of Mac and your family! Praying for all of you today and in the days ahead. Rest in Peace Mac.

  36. My sympathies to you Sharon and the family. How lucky you were to have such a wonderful man to call husband, father, grandfather. Thank you for sharing him with the community where many of us called him our friend. I treasure our conversations on the phone or in person from our volunteer days at the hospital. Such a kind-hearted, thoughtful, loving and caring man he was. Even shared some good humor from time to time! He gave of his time well…a good servant to many with a heart of gold. May your loving memories bring a smile to your face knowing that he touched many lives in a very special way. RIP Mac.


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