Obituaries

Richard P O'Neill

Photo of Richard P O'Neill
Richard P. O'Neill, 88, of Jefferson City, passed away Thursday, March 8, 2018, in Olathe, Kansas. He was born June 10, 1929, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of the late James and Florence (Cline) O'Neill. He was a graduate of University High School and the University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, Kan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict where he was honorably discharged. He was employed by IBM as a Systems Engineer, where he enjoyed a 35 year career, retiring in 1991 in Jefferson City, Mo. Rich was married in 1955, to his college girlfriend, Helen Kessler of Birmingham, AL, who died in an automobile accident in 1979. Rich then married Mary Ann (Schell) Nilges of St. Thomas, Mo. Rich loved sports. He coached kids baseball and basketball. He was an avid Jefferson City Jays football fan and K.U. basketball fan. He was a die-hard Kansas Jayhawk. Rich especially loved trout fishing, which he learned from Mary Ann. Together, he and Mary Ann built a home near Russellville, Mo., where they enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, landscaping, fishing in their lake and watching the wild life. Rich was an active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Russellville, Mo., where he was instrumental in planning the building of the church and the parish house. He previously served on the Parish Council, Finance Committee, Future Planning Committee and Chairman of the Fall Festival at St. Michael's. Rich is survived by his wife: Mary Ann; two sons: Mark O'Neill (wife Bobbie) of Nashville, Tenn.; Scott O'Neill (wife Lori) of Overland Park, Kan.; one step-son: Dale Nilges (wife Nancy) of Jefferson City, Mo.; three step-daughters: Rhonda LeCuru, Marlene Buckner (husband Joe), Kathy Dunwiddie (husband Russ), all of Jefferson City, Mo.; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Rich was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Jim, Bob and Eugene O'Neill; and one sister: Kathleen Walker. Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 12, 2018, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Russellville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 12, 2018, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with Fr. Rob Fields officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery in Jefferson City. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the St. Michael's Catholic Church Improvement Fund in Russellville, Mo. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com

Published March 11, 2018