PLAINFIELD, NH — John Charles (Jack) McNellis, (94) was born Monday, December 15, 1924, West Suburban Hospital, Oak Park IL, third of five children, first son of Harold Thomas and Harriet Marie Cummings McNellis. He was peacefully called home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2019, after being overwhelmed by aspiration pneumonia.
The family moved to Elmhurst IL, before he was of school age, and he attended Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst. In 1939 he entered Campion Jesuit High School, a boys private boarding school in Prairie du Chien, WI, graduating in 1943.
A week after graduation, on 6/14/1943, he joined the Army and served with honor until his discharge 1/4/1946. During this period, he was an early volunteer in the Army’s re-commissioned Parachute Training Program, completing his training with the 101st Airborne Division, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 502 Parachute Infantry on October 2, 1944.
He served in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, where he earned a Bronze Star and a Presidential Citation “for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Central Europe Campaign…” He and his Outfit successfully defended Longchamps, also known as “The Alamo of WWII,” just outside Bastogne, during the Battle of Bastogne. By successfully defending this major crossroads at Longchamps, cutting the Germans off and holding them there, the tide of the battle, and perhaps the war, was turned.
We recently received a long-preserved letter from his foxhole buddy, written in 1945 to his mother, describing Jack’s heroic actions during that battle when surrounded by the German forces. Because of new information in the letter, Jack is being considered posthumously for additional military honors.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946, he received a Congressional nomination for West Point which he declined to join the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1946, and was ordained a Jesuit priest on August 15, 1961.
While studying to become a priest, he earned a BA in Philosophy and Latin from St. Louis University in 1951, an MA in Latin in 1954, and a Bachelors degree in Sacred Theology (STB) from St. Mary’s College in 1959.
From 1952 to 1955, he taught at Marquette University High School. In 1960 he was chosen as Assistant Master of Novices because he was an exemplary model of a Jesuit priest to incoming young men, Novices. A Jesuit colleague reported he was chosen because he was “the best of the best.” While Assistant Master, he served at Jesuit College, St. Bonifacius, MN. where he also taught Latin, speech, and religion to Novices and Brothers.
In 1964 he transferred to Campion Jesuit High School to teach Classical Studies. He remained at Campion teaching, coaching tennis, serving on Presidential advisory boards, and supervising a dorm until 1975 when he undertook a course in Clinical Pastoral work at Mendota Mental Health Center. He served at Mendota until the culmination of his wrenching, years-long decision to leave the Jesuits in May, 1975 because he no longer felt he was doing God’s will for his life.
On June 25, 1976, Jack married Carolyn Smith and warmly received her and her three children into the new chapter of his life which was to endure for almost 43 years. Jack leaves his wife, Carolyn, step-children Lisa Smith Bellows, The Colony TX, and Christopher Smith, Seattle WA; and grandchildren Jacob and Jesse Bellows, The Colony TX; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his step-son Laurin Langran Smith, Jr., Seattle, and his three sisters and brother.
Jack celebrated life; he loved people; he loved to entertain, and he loved to share his “fresh from the green bean, home-roasted to perfection, ground just right and brewed with patience and skill” coffee, taking orders and never wasting a precious drop. He had deep concern for and focused on his family, his friends; his church, his community.
Jack worked for USPS as a rural carrier, traveling the roads of Plainfield and Cornish for thirteen years, painting the seasonal landscapes he saw every day. He was a member of the local Grange, celebrating the restoration of the Grange Hall by producing commemorative portraits of the two men most instrumental in doing the work. With a small group of like-minded friends, he started a political action group, The Plainfield Taxpayers Alliance; he was active in the local Philip Read Memorial Library, participating in the annual arts show and sale, and many fund raising efforts to help the library expand; he was a member of The Meriden Players, acting in several productions; he was also active in the Men’s Club of his local church, the Plainfield Community Baptist Church, and sang in the church choir for many years. He was an expert bridge and tennis player, and a much sought partner.
Jack was an honorable and amazing man with whom it was a privilege to share life. We celebrate his love of God and unending faith. He treated his wife with love and respect, and allowed her to be all she could be. He was filled with an amazing dry wit, optimism, and encouragement, and free with all. He could sense when people needed encouragement and was generous and positive in giving it. He saw beauty all around him, in the earth and in people. He loved Christ; throughout his life he prayed, privately but continually, for guidance to “do the right thing.” He was an amazing life partner, leading by example!
Upon departure from the Jesuits, Jack earned a BA degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to pursue a career as an artist, which he did successfully for the rest of his life. After graduation, he was hired as the Project Manager to select all the fine art work for the University’s new 1.5 million sq. ft. Clinical Science Center. He also was a member of a team of three artists commissioned by the City to paint a huge outdoor mural on the lakefront in Madison.
Jack was the epitome of a Renaissance man. Always a scholar, he had a life-long yearning to learn: languages, music, finance, politics, art, theology. He spoke and/or could read Latin and Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, and was learning Dutch and Arabic. When a stroke began to incapacitate him in 2012, he was studying Arabic so that he could read and understand the Koran, feeling a need to understand the Muslim faith.
Jack’s life personified the fruits of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. No matter where he went, nor what he did, his love of God, family, and his Jesuit training stood him in good stead.
It was a blessing to have shared him for so many years. We can’t imagine life without him in it, but he’ll always be with us, deep in our soul and spirit. And someday we’ll all be together again with the Lord in Heaven.
John Charles McNellis – 12/15/1924 to 4/06/2019.
“His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ ” KJV
Please join us in a Celebration of Life, June 25, 2019 at 4 P.M., Plainfield Community Church
Rt. 12-A, Plainfield, NH.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Plainfield Community Baptist Church; Cedar Hill Community Care Center, Windsor, VT.; Disabled American Veterans; The Vet Center, Hartford VT; The Society of Jesus, Wisconsin Province, Milwaukee, WI. or to a charity of your choice.