John O'Neill Sr

AUSTINTOWN - A Mass of Christine Burial will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, Boardman officiated by the Rev. Philip Rogers for Mr. John J. "Jack" O'Neill Sr., who died Tuesday morning at Brookdale Senior Living of Austintown formerly of Boardman .

He was born in Youngstown, on April 7, 1924, a son of William and Catherine Hanningan O'Neill.

John graduated from South High School in 1942 and had worked at Truscon Steel Co. until he was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 9, 1943. He was sent to the ETO, where he participated in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardinnes. John was awarded the EAME Theatre ribbon with five Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 10, 1945, at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

John attended Youngstown College School of Engineering and was employed by Automatic Sprinkler Corporation as a contracting engineer in Minneapolis. Minn.

On July 17, 1948, he married his wife, Mary Frances Rodgers at Patrick's Church in Youngstown and they returned to Minneapolis, where they lived until January, 1951.

Upon their return to Youngstown, John was employed by the Keystone Transportation Co. until 1960 when he was elected to be the recording secretary of Teamsters Local No. 377 for a three year term. He won seven more consecutive three year terms, one as Vice-president and the remaining six as president. He took early retirement on July 31, 1981.

John is survived by his four children, Patricia (Art) Stackpole, John J. (Janice) O'Neill Jr, Pamela O'Neill (Dennis) Tubic and Michael O'Neill; 11 grandchildren, Michael (Carolyn) Spencer, John Spencer Jr., Todd (Natalie) Spencer, Sean O'Neill, Kent (Colleen) O'Neill, Michelle Testa, Jennifer (Matt) McKim, Jamie (Andy) Robertson, Heather and Heidi O'Neill; seven great-grandchildren, Thomas Testa Jr., Santino Testa, Matthew McKim Jr., Alexandria Rose McKim, Stephanie Martin, Haley and Bradon Roberston; and his two sisters-in-law, Florence O'Neill and Barbara Rodgers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Frances; four brothers, William, Vincent, Bernard and Richard O'Neill; and sister-in-law Helen Hurley.

John was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, where he served as a head usher.

Friends may call on Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale for their compassionate care of John and also his caregiver John W. Spencer Sr.

Contributions may be made in John's memory to the church.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this obituary and to send condolences.

Arrangements are by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Boardman-Canfield Chapel.