Don O'Neill

Donald (Don) Frank O’Neill, 88, of Urbandale, Iowa departed this world peacefully at his family home on August 18, 2022 after a life well lived. He passed away from cancer on the date of his 49th wedding anniversary with his wife and caretaker, Kathy O’Neill.

Don spent his childhood in South Sioux City, NE and was a multi-sport varsity athlete at Bishop Heelan Catholic High School. He attended Creighton University where he enrolled in the R.O.T.C. program to help pay his way through school and became a first-generation college graduate. Don served as a Lieutenant in the Army at Fort Riley in Manhattan, KS for several years before moving to Moline, IL to briefly work at John Deere. He relocated to Des Moines, IA to accept a position in data engineering at Meredith Corporation where he climbed the ladder to become Director of Data Processing, met and married Kathy, and retired at a youthful 55 years of age, transitioning to a new position as professional chauffeur for his then-school aged children. He also worked part-time preparing taxes at the H&R Block Premium office and fundraising for United Way during retirement. Don unassumingly lived out the latter part of his life in service to others, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, driving for LifeServe Blood Center, preparing taxes pro-bono for low-income seniors, and working on the Finance Council and ushering at St. Theresa’s Parish for many years. He was a devout Catholic and his greatest pride was in his commitment to his faith, his church, and his family.

Don was an unparalleled father who relished in the unique experience of raising young children during two eras of his life, his 20s and his 50s. Those who loved him dearly will remember Don as a dependable, honest, hard-working man. If he ever committed to doing something, he would surely do it. He had a quick wit, an occasional hot temper that was easily cooled off, and a love of playing, coaching, and watching sports. He was an unwavering fan of Dowling Catholic (where all five of his children attended high school), both Iowa and Iowa State, Notre Dame, and the Chicago Cubs, even through many staggeringly bad seasons for all these teams. Above all, though, he reveled in watching his kids and grandkids play and grow to love sports.

Don had a charming sense of humor and when he laughed hard, it was hard not to also laugh yourself. He loved corndogs and wonder bars at the Iowa State Fair, and it’s fitting that he passed in the midst of one of his favorite yearly events. Don was a consummate card-player who never went easy on his grandkids, a game-show aficionado who maintained his knack for solving tough puzzles even when beleaguered by some memory challenges during his final years, a mediocre golfer who was thrilled to shoot 30 over par, a life-long dog lover who is back with his former pups on the rainbow bridge (most recently, his treasured Simon), and an inquisitive conversationalist who was more interested in learning about the experiences of others than talking about himself.

Don was preceded in death by and is now joyfully reunited with his beloved daughters, Traci Sailors and Sandie O’Neill, and his brothers, Bob and Bill O’Neill. He is survived by his wife Kathy O’Neill; children Patrick O’Neill (Tiffany O’Neill) of Omaha, NE, Meghan O’Neill (Nicolas Guzman) of Chicago, IL, and Scott O’Neill (Michael Mohn) of Kennebunk, ME; grandchildren Andrea, Alyssa, Katie Grace, and Harper O’Neill of Omaha, NE; grandchildren Sofia, Gabriela, Nicolas Samuel, and Camelia Guzman of Chicago, IL; grandchildren Courtney, Brennan, and Elise Sailors of Perry, OH; and great-grandchildren Luca Maldonado and Zane Sailors of Perry, OH. All held him in the highest regard and loved him dearly.

Don’s visitation will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway (3601 Westown Pkwy, West Des Moines) on Monday, August 22, 2022 from 5 to 7 PM. The mass and celebration of his life, officiated by Father Raphael Assamah, will follow on Tuesday, August 23 at St. Theresa Catholic Church (1230 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines) at 10:30 AM. Donald will be laid to rest at Glendale Cemetery following Mass. If you need further information, please contact Hamilton’s Funeral Home at (515) 243-5221 or www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Theresa Building Fund in Don’s name. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the nursing staff at Wesley Hospice who diligently cared for Don during the final chapter of his life, most especially nurse Patty.

Print