Posted: Aug. 12, 2009 |(0) Comments

John Jefferson "Papa John" Moriarty Sr., formerly of Shorewood, died Aug. 2, 2009, at age 89 in Green Bay at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law.

He was born in Shorewood on June 8, 1920, the son of Michael Maurice and Mary Eva (nee Smith) Moriarty. John graduated in the Class of 1939 from Shorewood High School and was a former parishioner and altar boy at St. Robert's Catholic Church in Shorewood.

He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving an Honorable Discharge from Camp Claiborne, La., on Oct. 17, 1944. After serving his country, he established himself as a businessman when he and his brother opened a gas station on Capitol Drive in the Shorewood area. He later married Mary Ann Hoeller on Oct. 2, 1946; they were married for 37 years before her death on May 1, 1984.

While raising their family of eight children, John started up his independently owned recreational and camping equipment rental business for which he eventually earned the local reputation of being "Camper John."

In 1969, John established the Lollycoogan Inn in Sayner/St. Germain. It was here that the locals and tourists began to refer to him as "Papa John." He remained as the proprietor for the Lollycoogan Inn until 1985, when he sold the business. Upon retirement, John spent a great deal of the past 20 years traveling and visiting his children in Florida, Nevada and California as well as throughout Wisconsin.

He is survived by his children, Kathleen (Paul) Jones, John J. (Elizabeth) Moriarty Jr., Patricia (Dennis) Schoppe, Ellen "Ann" (Larry) Kasten, Peggy (Kevin) Crowley, Carol (David) Rowe and Maura (Jeff) Grant; brother and sister, Maurice Gregory (Theresa) Moriarty and Helen (Robert) Lynch; grandchildren, Jacqueline Jones, John (Renee) Jones, Brian Andersen, Mark Schoppe, Jeffrey (Christine) Kasten, Scott (Jennifer) Kasten, Andrew (Nicole) Kasten, Kathleen (Mike) Koch, Mary Ann Rowe, David Rowe Jr. and Ellen Ann Crowley; 10 great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (nee Hoeller); son, Theodore Michael; brothers, Michael (Joan) Joseph and Paul (Delores) James; and sister, Sr. Mary St. Maura Geraldine.

Visitation will be held at the Feerick Funeral Home today from 4 to 7 p.m. A second visitation will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 2820 County Road N, Sayner, on Friday from 2 p.m. until the celebration of Mass of Christian Burial at 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Star Lake Cemetery in Star Lake.

Memorials are suggested to the Green Bay Aurora VNA Hospice, 931 Discovery Road, Green Bay, WI 54311; or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, c/o VFW Foundation, 406 W. 34th St., Suite 514, Kansas City, MO 64111.

The family thanks Mary, Lise, Bev, Jim, Linda and Pam from Green Bay Aurora VNA Hospice for their exceptional care and support.

Feerick Funeral Home handled the arrangements.