OBITUARY John Luke McConn Jr. June 14, 1923 – January 6, 2019 John Luke “Jack” McConn, Jr. passed away, on Sunday, the 6th of January 2019, at the age of 95. He was born the 14th of June 1923, National Flag Day, in St Louis, MO to Ethel Elizabeth Trinkhaus and John Luke McConn, Sr. The family moved to Tulsa, OK and in 1939 relocated to Houston where he remained until his passing. He was the oldest of four brothers.
Jack was a 1942 graduate of St Thomas High School in Houston. In his second year at Rice University, Jack enlisted in the Army and was called up for duty in May 1944 during WWII. He was assigned to the 410th Regiment of the 103rd Infantry Division, which deployed overseas landing in Marseilles, France in September 1944 several months after D-Day.
Joining the 45th Infantry Division of the Seventh Army as a Lieutenant, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in addition to The Silver Star for action on the 16th March 1945, near Viliesbrucken, Germany. Jack was then honorably discharged from the Army in the summer of 1946. Following the war, Jack was introduced to the love of his life Mary Catherine (Katie) Burke by her brother Eddie.
They were married on the 26th December 1947, at St Anne’s Catholic Church. Katie and Jack both moved to Austin while Jack attended the University of Texas Law School on the G.I. Bill with only two years of undergraduate study. Practicing law well into his 80’s, Jack spent nearly 30 years as a senior partner of Butler Binion Rice Cook and Knapp, until forming his own law firm in 1986.
Jack was a member of and served as President of the Houston Bar Association. He was also Director of the State Bar of Texas. Jack is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Association, and a Fellow of both the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Jack was an avid self-taught portrait and landscape artist, painting up until the end of his life. Jack and Katie lived in Houston throughout their marriage where they raised their five children. Jack also served on the Board of St Joseph Foundation and on the Board of Directors of St Thomas High School.
He is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and was the past President of the Houston Serra Club. Jack was a member of Holy Rosary Parish. Jack is survived by his adoring wife of 71 years, Katie, daughter Kathleen “Kathy” McConn Smith and husband Bill, sons John Luke McConn III and wife Christiana, Stephen Burke McConn, Mark Daniel McConn and wife Susie, daughter Erin McConn Hughston and husband Tom and brother-in- law, Jack Burke, Jr. and sister-in-law Margie McConn.
John Luke was affectionately known as “Pawpaw” to his 17 grandchildren; Shannon Smith Strehli (Scott), Christiana Smith Stojanik (David), and Katie Smith Phillippi (Bane); Isla McConn Jornayvaz (Joseph), John Luke McConn IV (Rachel), Douglas McConn, Kate McConn Fazio (Anthony), Mark McConn, Randa McConn and Mary Kelly McConn; Daniel, Meg and Matthew McConn; Ainsley, Thomas, John Luke, and Hanna Hughston; 14 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Ethel Trinkhaus McConn, father, John Luke McConn, Sr., and brothers, Robert G. McConn, M.D., The Honorable James J. McConn, and Thomas P. McConn. The Funeral Mass is to be offered at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 11th of January, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the St. Basil Hall. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3617 Milam Street, Houston, Texas 77002 or St. Anne Catholic Church.
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