Deacon John Richard Whelan died June 8 at his home. He was 87 and had been a deacon for 36 years.
Deacon Whelan was ordained June 11, 1983, by Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly. He was assigned to St. Martin of Tours Church in his hometown of Flaherty, Ky., where he served for 32 years.
Deacon Whelan was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. He retired from Olin Chemical Plant in Brandenburg, Ky.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years Barbara Pike Whelan; two sons, Tim Whelan and Chris Whelan; three daughters, Ellen Jones, Kateri Whelan and Mary Richard Branger; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; three brothers, Mike Whelan, Paul Martin Whelan and Forrest Whelan; and a sister, Mary Ellen Williams.
Visitation will be today, June 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and June 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chism Family Funeral Home, in Vine Grove, Ky. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. June 10 at the funeral home.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. June 11 at St. Martin of Tours. Burial will follow in St. Martin Cemetery.
