Michael W. O’Neill, age 80, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at his residence of Holstein. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 5, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church of Holstein with the Fr. Richard D. Ball officiating. Burial will be at the Calvary Cemetery of Holstein with military rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225 of Holstein. A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2016 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM with a Rosary held at 4:00 PM and a Vigil Service held at 7:00 P.M. at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.
Michael (Bill) William O’Neill, 80, of Holstein passed away on August 31 at his home surrounded in love by his family. He was born February 13, 1936 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Felix Vincent and Mary Kathryn O’Neill. Mike, or known as Bill to his family, grew up in Dunlap, Iowa and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic High School. He served in the United States Army and Army Reserves after high school.
Mike married Rita Wilson, his wife of 53 years, on December 1, 1962 on a windy day in Denison, IA. After their marriage they settled in Omaha, NE. In Omaha, they were members of St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church where Mike served on the parish council and worked many spaghetti dinners. He worked for Wilson Meatpacking in Omaha and later transferred to the plant in Cherokee, Iowa. While changing jobs, he moved his family to Holstein, IA where Mike began working for Wilson Foods and later Tyson Foods in Cherokee, IA until his retirement in 1998. In Holstein, Mike was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.
Mike had a strong belief in his faith, attending Mass and praying the rosary daily. Mike enjoyed fishing and teaching his grandchildren to fish. He loved music, family gatherings, and playing cards with his family and friends. He loved hunting with his dogs and raising many Beagles over the years. He was an avid sports fan following all of his children and grandchildren’s sports. He was passionate about sports and enjoyed watching Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa St, Creighton and especially Cubs baseball. He found pleasure in helping others by visiting the elderly and home bound.
He is survived by his wife Rita; eight children and 23 grandchildren, Mary (Nathan, Connor, Zach Ganyo) O’Neill of Omaha, NE; Lori (Mark)(Aaron, Shaina, Kayla, Brady) Lonneman of Adrian, MN; Sean (Audra)(Breanne, Griffin) O’Neill, Wall Lake, IA; Jill (Shad)(Noah, Cole, Reghan) Smith, Papillion, NE; Tari (Chris)(Alexis) Croy, Johnston, IA; Shannon (Chad)(Ryleigh, Dane, Will, Drew) Gebers, Lincoln, NE; Erin (Jesse)(McKenna, Blake, Kiera) Gleason, Cedar Falls, IA; Ryan (Amber)(Kaitlyn, Kylie, Keelon) O’Neill, Rockwell City, IA; brother Dennis (Stella) O’Neill, Lowell, AK. Many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents; a son Kevin; his brother Terry O’Neill; sisters, Kathryn (Cindy) Frank, and Mary Pat O’Neill; father and mother in law, Charles Edward and Mildred (Remmes) Wilson.