John "Jack" Joseph Jude Sexton, 95

John “Jack” Joseph Jude Sexton, 95 year old resident of Janesville was carried up by angels to heaven to his beloved wife Peggy, daughters Beth, Julie and Therese and the great gathering of the Irish clans of the Sextons and McCarthys on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00am on Friday September 13, 2019 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Janesville with his grandsons, Fr. Matt and Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht, celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Ann Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday September 12, 2019 with a Rosary Service beginning at 4 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. All at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the Mass at Church on Friday Morning. Memorials are preferred to St. Ann Catholic Church for the new reception hall.
Arrangements are with Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service. www.janesvillefuneral.com
Jack Sexton was born on the family farm on April 1, 1924 in Janesville to Myrtle (McCarthy) and Joseph Leo Sexton. He graduated from Janesville High School in 1941 and went on to study and graduated from the University of Minnesota where he met the love of his life, Peggy Holmes. They were married by Fr. Fuhrbach at St. Rose of Lima Church in Hill City, South Dakota on November 26, 1944 where they began a long and devoted marriage that lasted 72 years. Jack was a member of the Navy ROTC in college and graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering before serving in the Navy at Moffitt Field Air station in Palo Alto, California.
After his discharge Jack and Peggy moved to Mankato in 1946 to raise their thirteen children. They were long time members of St. Peter & Paul Parish. Jack became certified as a mechanical and electrical engineer and established the John J. Sexton Consulting Engineers firm in 1951. He became one of the post World War II Mankato business leaders. His firm did the engineering work for many of the churches, school, hospitals and government buildings throughout southern Minnesota until he retired in 1976. Jack was highly regarded for his engineering skill and his deep integrity. He was supportive of many others when they began careers in Mankato and was active in many civic affairs. He and Peggy developed many close lifelong friends during these years.
In 1976 they moved back to his family farm in Janesville where they designed, built and devoted themselves to the Holy Spirit Retreat Center on Lake Elysian. Their life was focused on bringing people to Jesus Christ through prayer, worship and song. They retired to Socorro, New Mexico in 1996 for twelve years of warmth and sunny skies, returning home to Janesville in 2008 to be closer to their family.
Jack loved God and his family above all else. He was a quiet and kind person with inner strength, unwavering integrity and a generous heart. He quietly helped untold family and friends. Most of all Jack had a simple uncomplicated faith in his Lord Jesus Christ. This rock like faith left an indelible mark on all his children and grandchildren whom he kept in his daily prayers and rosary intentions. His family is sure his prayers have saved them on many occasions too numerous to count. His grandchildren and great grandchildren delighted him continually. He was also fond of the Twins and Vikings. He may help out the Twins from heaven in their pennant race this year.
Blessed be his memory.
Jack is survived by his daughters: Marny (Ray) Fasnacht of rural Janesville, Diane (Jerry) Hendrickson of St. Paul, Jane (Joe) Matsumoto of Rochester, and Gina (Joe) Jewison of Platteville WI; His sons; John of Anchorage, Alaska, Dan, Kevin (Becky) of Eagan, Joe (Colleen) of Oakdale, Tom(Ann) of Arlington Virginia, and Peter (Esther) of Beresford SD; his 33 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren; brother in law Gene May of rural St. Clair; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife Peggy, parents, sisters: Marguerite Peterson and Pat May; daughters: Beth, Therese and Julie and his grandson, Michael Fasnacht.