John Cordoue

John Cordoue, professor emeritus of social work at Briar Cliff University died peacefully at home on Sunday, November 17, 2024, of natural causes. He was 99. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Holy Cross Parish – St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Sioux City with Father Randy Schon, Celebrant (due to construction please enter the church parking lot using the side entrance from Mohave Drive). Visitation will be held on Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.

John was born June 24, 1925, the middle child of seven to Ernest and Frances (McCleen) Cordoue in Philadelphia, PA. He attended Most Blessed Sacrament Grade School and West Catholic High School for Boys. Upon his completion of high school, he enlisted in the Army/Air Corps and was assigned as a ball turret gunner to the 490th Bomb Group, 849th Squadron. He served from 1943-1945 and was stationed in Great Britain at the airfield in Eye. He flew nineteen missions over Germany and participated in the “food dropping” over Amsterdam shortly after V-E Day. After his honorable discharge, he began his pursuit of lifelong learning.

He received a B.A. from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, an M.A. from St. Louis University, a Ph.D. from Catholic University and an MSW from the University of Iowa. He was a marriage and family therapist at Family Services and Boys and Girls Home and taught Sociology of the Family parttime at Briar Cliff and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing. He was a clinical member of the Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a member of the National Association of Social Workers and a Licensed Independent Social Worker for the state of Iowa.

In 1975 he joined the newly accredited social work program at Briar Cliff full-time. He developed the foundation courses in human behavior and practice and electives in human sexuality and gerontology. He also taught various one-hour courses, calligraphy for the Art Department, and Sociology of the Family at St. Luke’s School of Nursing.

He served on the board of the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and on the board of the Child Protection Center for Mercy Hospital. He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and in 1994 participated in a Jimmy Carter blitz build with the Cheyenne River Sioux in Standing Rock South Dakota. After his retirement he taught English as a second language for more than ten years in the Franciscan neighborhood project housed at St. Boniface parish. He also delivered Meals on Wheels for more than fifteen years only ended by the pandemic. 

He is survived by his wife Sylvia Kuennen, his sister Bernadette Chupein of Philadelphia, his brothers and sisters-in-law: Esther Darnell, Annapolis, MD, Bernice Lansing, La Crosse, WI, Adrian Kuennen, Iowa City, Vern and Eileen Kuennen, Coon Rapids, MN, Cy and Judy Kuennen, Phoenix, AZ, Monica and William Burrows, Sioux City, Mark and Frances Kuennen, New Hampton, IA, Beth and John Calhoun, Polk City, IA, Chuck Bailey, Robins, IA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Frank and Bud, his sisters Margaret (Sherman) Black, Lil (Ed) Walawender, Delores O’Brien, and brothers-in-law Joe Chupein, Don Darnell, Denis Kuennen, and sisters-in-law Barbara Bailey and Ellen Kuennen.

A scholarship in his name has been established at Briar Cliff University.