John Raymond O'Neill

John Raymond O'Neill, 56, of Dakota Dunes, left us unexpectedly and way too soon on June 29, 2017. 

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday July 3, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Jackson, NE. with Father Paul Albenesius officiating.  Visitation will be Sunday July 2, 2017 from 4 till 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 till 8 p.m. and vigil service at 7 p.m. all at the church.  Burial will be in the St. John’s Cemetery in Jackson, NE.  

 The quality of a life is a product of the relationships built, and by that standard the life of John O’Neill, born in Jackson on January 30, 1961 to Tom and Esther (Heck) O’Neill, was of the highest quality. Whether you met him once or saw him every day, you never felt out of place, and you always felt blessed to be there, in that moment, with someone who was fully engaged and ready to bring a smile to your face. He managed it all without an overwhelming ability to say what you meant to him but was never short on aptitude to show it. It’s for this reason, among others, that so many people are filled today with heavy, but full, hearts. 

One of John’s most endearing qualities was his relentless expression of love and care for others. A circle of friends was just a circle without John O’Neill. Once surrounded by a group of his closest friends and family, he played the role of giver, making it his priority to maximize the group’s enjoyment and light up the room. He usually achieved this by telling jokes, which were only as fresh and original as the number of John’s circles you were lucky enough to be a part of. 

John loved his family deeply, and that love was reciprocated. He was extremely proud of his sons, capitalizing on every opportunity to talk about their accomplishments. To his last breath, he was also undoubtedly prepared and thrilled to be a grandpa, a role that felt like his destiny and ticket to eternal purpose, satisfaction and happiness. 

John O’Neill was a good Irish soul. May he be in heaven an hour before the devil knows he's dead. 

John is survived by his two sons, Andrew (Nicole) O'Neill, and Alexander O'Neill, both of Omaha and one grandson, Jack. Also left to cherish his memory are Tawnya O’Neill of Dakota Dunes, Chase and Ashley Cleveland of Sioux City and his siblings:  Richard (Jan) O'Neill of Jackson, Mich., Peg (Jim) Beyers of Madison, Wis., Betty Barnett of North Sioux City, Sam (Janet) O'Neill of Colorado Springs, Colo., Janet (Tom) Rager of Harshaw, Wis., Bonnie (Jim) Cervantes of Lansing, Mich., Joe (Debbie) O'Neill of Jackson, Bob (Donna) O'Neill of Le Mars, Iowa, Jeannie (Sam) Patterson of Sayner, Wis., and Teresa (John) Arnold of Sayner, Wis., along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother Patrick, brother Mike, nephew Tommy Paul, and niece Tracy.