John Edward Rooney, age 82, of Tulsa, died on Monday, June 28, 2010 at home with his family.

Born December 16, 1927, in Muskogee, OK, to Laurence Francis and Marguerite Rines Rooney, he married Marjorie Mary Kavanagh on September 21, 1950 in Peoria Heights, IL. He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph in 1960, his wife, Marjorie in 1998, his daughter, Anne R. Rooney Pareto in 1999 and his son, Peter J. Rooney in 2004. Surviving are five children: Kathleen M. Rooney Hastings (Blake), Marjorie K. Rooney Huffman (Robert), John E. Rooney, Jr., Michael R.K.Rooney and Mark S. Rooney (Molly), daughter-in-law Catherine W. Rooney, and son-in-law Thomas R. Pareto. Sixteen grandchildren, Anne H. Brislin (Tim), Blake R. Hastings (Carey), John J. Hastings (Nina), and Mary K. Hastings; Katherine H. Henke (Frazier), Elizabeth R. Huffman, Robert A. Huffman III, and Simeon R. Huffman; Bridget O. Rooney; Clair K. and Emily I. Pareto; Marjorie M. and Blaine K. Rooney; and Brian P., Anne M. and Nancy F. Rooney. Four great grandchildren, J. Hastings Brislin, Blake K. Brislin, Patrick B. Hastings and Colin R. Hastings.

He graduated from Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesotta in 1944 and received his bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. in 1948. He received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1951. He was chairman of The Rooney Corporation and a parishioner of Holy Family Cathedral where he was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Mr. Rooney received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1985, and the John Carroll Award from Georgetown University in 1977. He was the host chairman of the 1968 Republican Governor's Conference, chairman of Governor Dewey Bartlett's Inauguration Committee, a past president of the Georgetown University Alumni Association, a past chairman of the NCCJ's Tulsa Chapter, past chairman of the Benedictine Sisters Advisory Board, past president of Children's Medical Center and a former director of Gilcrease Museum Association and Cascia Hall School. He was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Tulsa County Bar Association. He had memberships in Southern Hills Country Club, the Summit Club, the former Tulsa Club and Sequoyah Club on the Illinois River.

In Tucson, Arizona he was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and held memberships in Oro Valley Country Club and the Mountain Oyster Club.

Rosary will be 6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2010 at Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, OK. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2010 at Holy Family Cathedral. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa. The family would appreciate Memorial Masses. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Cathedral or to the John E. Rooney Scholarhsip Fund at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. 20057-1253.