RANDOLPH — John “Jack” McCarthy died March 7, 2025. Visitation and a rosary were March 10 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, State Center, Iowa. A Funeral Mass was held March 11, at St. Joseph’s Church, with a funeral luncheon to follow. A Mass of Remembrance will be held at a later date at St. Patrick Church in Jack’s hometown of Jackson. The burial will take place at a later date. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted to care for Jack and his family. Jack was born Dec. 16, 1936, at the family farm in Randolph, to Daniel J. and Helen R. (Lamb) McCarthy. Jack was the sixth of ten children. At the age of four, his family moved to a farm near Jackson, where he spent his childhood playing basketball, baseball and football. He was an active member of the Dairy Island 4-H Club, showing dairy cattle at the Dakota County Fair and the Nebraska State Fair. Jack graduated from Jackson High School in 1955, and went on to attend Wayne State College.

Jack returned to Jackson to farm and, in 1959, joined the United States Air Force Reserves. He went on to serve in the National Guard, stationed in Sioux City, Iowa, with the 185th Tactical Squadron. He received his honorable discharge in 1965. Inspired by his love of attending cattle and farm sales, Jack graduated from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City in 1960.

He married Madonna Hoesing Jan. 12, 1963, at St. Frances Church, Randolph, after meeting her at a dance at the West Randolph Ballroom. Together, they farmed east of Randolph, raising a herd of Holstein dairy cattle and growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Jack and Madonna were blessed with five children, Corene, Monica, Patti, Jim and Jackie. Jack instilled in his children the values of hard work, faith and the rewards of farm life. He was their 4-H leader and mentor, always leading by example. A devout member of St. Frances Church, Jack served as a Minister of the Eucharist, sacristan, and rosary leader.

Jack and Madonna shared a love for travel, visiting destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Australia and New Zealand, along with many states across the U.S. Jack had a deep appreciation for working with livestock and loved attending dairy and cattle sales at the Norfolk Livestock Market and the Laurel Sale Barn.

In 2011, Jack and Madonna moved to State Center, Iowa, to be near their daughters. Jack embraced his love of the outdoors, restoring antique tractors, planting trees, and tending to his flowers. He cherished time with his family and grandchildren. While in State Center, he was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where he led the rosary, served as a Minister of the Eucharist, and delivered Meals on Wheels. He was a proud member of the Rhodes American Legion Post 456 and the Mid-Iowa Antique Tractor Association of Marshall County.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Madonna; son, Jim (Amy) McCarthy, Port Allen, La.; daughters, Corene (James) Baum, Rio Rancho, N.M.; Monica (Alan) Edler, Patti (Eric) Edler, and Jackie Mora, all of State Center, Iowa. He was a beloved grandfather to 14 grandchildren, Rachel, Lucas, Adele, Sophia, and Rhiannon Baum; Blake and Robin Edler; Jacob (Moriah) Edler; Carolyn (Stetson) Badje; Emmett Edler; Shawn McCarthy; and Joaquin, Fabian and Max Mora; and two great-grandchildren, Taylee Mae Edler and Briggs Badje. He is also survived by his twin sisters, Alice Reeg and Ellen Livingston, Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law, Marie Hoesing, Lincoln; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Helen McCarthy; his parents-in-law, Robert and Mary Hoesing; his granddaughter, Graciela Mora; his siblings, Daniel (Marilyn) McCarthy, Thomas (Margaret) McCarthy, Ruth (Pat) Rooney, Marg (Vernon) Loutsch, Mary Rose (Sam) Morgan, Carol McCarthy, and Judy Mc-Carthy; brothers-in-law, Jerry Reeg, Charles Livingston, John T. Hoesing and Roger Walz; nephew Jack Rooney; and nieces, Malinda McCarthy and Joan McCarthy.

Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation.