Nina O'Neal

1920 - 2011

Nina Lee O'Neal

West Des Moines

After a courageous four year battle with cancer, Nina, 83, passed away peacefully in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 28, at Iles Funeral Homes - Westover Chapel. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 27 also at the funeral home.

Nina was born on October 9, 1927, and raised in Humeston, graduated from Humeston High School, and then graduated from the Iowa School of Beauty Culture in Des Moines.

She was the only child born to the late Vera Kay Roe and Melvin Bell Kirkwood. After her father's death she was lovingly raised by her mother and her late step-father Gerald Dosson Harris.

On March 25, 1951, Nina married Herman Dale O'Neal at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They had three children, Vicki Kay, Cheryl Ann, and Michael Dale and created a loving home before Herman died on December 19, 1965. Following Herman's death Nina returned to work and for many years owned a successful manicure business (Nina's Nails) at Anthony's Hair Concepts before her retirement in 1992.

She will forever be remembered by her beloved children, Vicki Kay Johnson (Spencer Lane Clark) of Orcas, Washington; Cheryl O'Neal Hultquist (Allen Ward Hultquist) of Cupertino, CA; Michael Dale O'Neal (Stephanie Lynn Squires O'Neal) of Des Moines; and treasured grandchildren, Eric Steven Machholz of Waukee; Michael Allen Hultquist of Gilbert, AZ; and Erin Ann Hultquist of Cupertino, CA; along with countless friends and family whom were blessed to know her.

Nina selflessly devoted her time and talents helping those less fortunate and made life better for everyone she touched. She served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher and Hunger Hike Coordinator for Knox United Presbyterian Church. She represented Knox Church on the CROSS Ministries for the Presbytery Committee of Des Moines and the Des Moines Presbytery's Two Rivers Regional Partnership Committee. She also served as a Camp Fire Girl leader and used her creative talents to make crafts for the annual Knox Church Bazaar and beautiful ceramics for family and friends.

Nina touched the lives of many people with her warmth and generosity, and maintained her trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. The family requests that all donations be sent to Animal Rescue League of Iowa, CROSS Ministries of Iowa and Hospice of Central Iowa.