Joseph O'Neill

1920 - 2018

Joseph "Joe" Francis O'Neill was born on December 26, 1920 to Josephine and Aloysius O'Neill, the first of eight children borne by his mother, and the last sole surviving sibling. He was the elder brother to his sister Genevieve (George) Bruen, twin brothers, Huey and Eugene, a second set of twin brothers, Richard and Robert (Marie) and two additional sisters from a second marriage, Joan Jameson and Mildred (Chuck) Ethridge. Joe attended multiple elementary schools, graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago, and served his country honorably during World War II. While home and desiring to "kill a little time", he called a home believing he was going to meet a "cute, red head" and the door opened, and rather than the "cute red head," there stood Margaret Mary (Peg) Navins, a "cute petite brunette," who was a junior in high school. Upon her graduation from high school and following her 18th birthday, they wed on December 4, 1943, and remained married until her passing in September of 1980. From that marriage, four loving children were born: Mary Margaret (Donald) Wilfinger, Therese, Terrence (Harriet) and the late Michael. He was the forever loving father-in-law to Sandra O'Neill. From his children and their partners, he and Peg were given four loving grandchildren: Kristine (Jeff) Gericke, Josh (fiancé, Tamara Jimshitashvili), Wendy (Tony) Tesmer and Melanie (Joe) Mack. And from his grandchildren, he was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Gabrielle (Gabby), Cameron, Stanford, Amelia (Lia), Ethan, Peyton and Ashton. He was a caring and fun-loving uncle to many nieces and nephews, from the Bruen, Liedberg, Navins, O'Neill, and Ethridge families. He was a milkman for 29 years, worked in the steel mills of Inland Steel Company for about six years, and following his formal retirement at age 62, went back to work at Evanston School District 65 for 18 years on a part-time basis (using his two index fingers to input Accounts Payable bills.) Joe was a loner and had what he called work colleagues/friends but always believed you could count one's real friends on one hand. Always a south-sider, he moved with his daughter Therese, to the north side in 1985 and fostered two of his longest standing personal friendships with Bernie Siegel and Pete Gamber. He was referred to as the "Pop of Bent Park" and hosted wooden bench conversations with many neighbors, strangers, dogs and lots of waves at passing cars with friendly faces inside. He loved the waitresses at Walker Brothers, the girls waiting on him at Tag's Bakery, the guys at Lincolnwood Service Station, and the husband and wife at Scot Cleaners and he especially loved and treasured his many years of Friday time with his "adopted daughter," Jadwiga (Harriet) Rutkowska. He enjoyed the many people who entered his home and they often left with Fannie Mae candy, or Wells Street popcorn. These business will be especially impacted financially by his passing. A welcoming reception will be held Thursday, February 8, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. at St. Athanasius Parish, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston, IL 60201 Joe's Interment will be Friday, February 9, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at Saint Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park in the chapel Joe was a foster child and he had a deep fondness for Catholic Charities and the care of warm homes he was placed in during his childhood. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities-Attn: Emma Lemar, 721 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60654. Funeral info (847) 675-1990 or www.donnellanfuneral.com