Richard M. "Dick" O'Leary

1930 - 2023

Janesville, WI - Peacefully and surrounded by his beloved wife and his four daughters, Richard "Dick" M. O'Leary, died on August 30, 2023 at the family farmstead. Born August 11, 1930, he was the eleventh of the twelve children born to his parents, Charles Edward and Mary Ellen (Reed) O'Leary. The family was a farm family in the town of Rock where they milked cows, raised crops, tobacco, and children.

As a youngster he was active in 4-H and his church. He graduated from the one-room Hayner School and then attended St. Patrick's Catholic School in 1945. He graduated in the Janesville High School Class of 1948. In the yearbook it was written about Dick that "a finer youth will ne'er be found though one may look the world around."

He met his wife, Marion (Fanning) O'Leary in high school and the two were wed at St. Mary's on October 20, 1951. Devoted to one another, they celebrated 71 years of marriage. They became the parents to four daughters as Dick would later refer to as "the four girls." A devoted husband, he and Marion enjoyed many pursuits together. They traveled, they hunted, they fished, they golfed and were blessed with many years of retirement in Arizona. Their mutual devotion to each other was something to behold.

Dick and Marion farmed after their marriage, but in 1955 they left the farm when Dick became a Janesville Police Officer, a job he deeply loved and was very proud of. He was blessed with great co-workers who became friends. Dick was promoted to Sergeant in 1965, and to Records Sergeant in 1970. After attending the FBI Academy in 1974, Dick was promoted to Lieutenant in 1981. He retired as Lieutenant after 31 years of service in May 1986. During his career as an officer, Dick was the State Champion Pistol Shooter in 1960 shooting a nearly perfect score in rapid fire. He was awarded the Outstanding Policeman in 1969. He served as Janesville Professional Police Association president from 1963-65.

In the early 1960s, Dick and Marion and his sister Vernice and her husband, Conrad Oleston, developed Sunnyside Subdivision on the west side of Janesville. Later, he and his wife together with his brother Harry J. and his wife, Barbara O'Leary, developed Franklin Meadows Subdivision. Throughout that time, they built twenty-three houses. He and his brother Harry would later join together with Bob Hiller and in 1963, they built Rollin Pin Bakery, a well-known spot for over thirty-three years on the Westside of town. They later added on to the structure which currently houses O'Leary Dental, Boltz Strength, My Apartment, O'Leary Law Office and Knockouts.

Dick served as a supervisor for the town of Rock for twelve years before being elected as Town Chairman. He served as chairman for fifteen years and saw a new town hall built for more accessibility, the construction of the town of Rock Ball Park as well as the Highway 11 bypass project completed.

When Dick was hired as a Police Officer, he was required to live within the city limits. When that rule was changed, he and his wife moved back to the O'Leary farmstead to the home his parents had built in 1911. He continued to raise tobacco where many nieces and nephews developed a great work ethic with little or no pay other than Marion's meals. He had a unique knack for making work seem fun. Dick later would become a partner in O'Leary Gunn Farms. The farm was awarded a centennial certificate in 2011 and it was celebrated on the farm with a large O'Leary Reunion. And, as everyone understood, one had better have a good excuse to miss a reunion!

His Catholic faith was very important to Dick. A daily rosary, as well as a morning and night prayer time was something he did not miss. Dick was a member of St. Patrick's as a youth and would later join St. William's parish in 1956. He served on the church council as president. He was a Knights of Columbus member 75 years having become a Knight at age 18. He was also a member of the Moose Club for many years.

Words cannot do justice to reflect the type of man Dick was. If you didn't love him, then you didn't know him. Every day was a gift in his eyes and he lived each day to the fullest. Why wait until tomorrow if you can get it done today? He was a true blessing to his four daughters. They were each raised to believe that they were his favorite! He enjoyed coffee with his nieces and nephews downtown for many years and looked forward to Thursday lunch at My Apartment where all were welcome to join.

He had a personal relationship with each of his twelve grandchildren and were a huge part of their day-to-day lives whether that was imparting a serious life lesson with wise words of advice, or more humorous lessons such as "O'Learys always move forward and never in reverse" or "kindness doesn't cost a thing" while at his special place at Ma's Marsh, or leading exercises each morning before picking sweet corn, stopping for a pop at My Apartment, cheering from the stands at sporting events with his famous line of "Pour it on!", or supporting at the 4-H Fair - he never missed the opportunity to be there for his family. He was a big believer in acts of kindness - that was always his request at a holiday or birthday. He never wanted a present, but rather the gift of time. A round of "This Little Light of Mine" would often accompany any get together.

He was an incredibly special person and the class of 1948 got it right when they said "a finer youth would ne'er be found"

Left to mourn his loss are his wife, Marion; his four daughters and their husbands: Mary Ellen (Michael) Morris, Jacquelyn Ann (Dennis) Bier, Debra Marie (Dean) Wuttke, and Susan Frances (Mark) Gunn; his twelve grandchildren: Lindsey Bier, Richard Michael (Kelly) Morris, Kellie (Chad) Morris Pearson, Emily (Drew) Gunn Severson, Daniel (Jennifer) Gunn, Ross (Bre) Bier, Chelsea (Adam) Morris Vesterfelt, Larissa (Phil) Bier Carter, Laura (Ben) Gunn Fuhrmann, Christopher (Sarah) Gunn, Taylor Wuttke, and Griffin Wuttke. He was also great-grandfather to twenty-nine including: Ireland, Delaney and Molly Morris, Tate, Mary Ellen, Cormac, Becket and Evangeline Pearson, Charles O'Leary, Biddle Tripp and Cashton Gunn, Lyvia, Grey, Remington and Blakely Bier, Jamison Morris, Vincent and Richard Vesterfelt, Parker, Lincoln and Gilbert Carter, Jack, Ryan Richard and Daniel Fuhrmann, William, Christopher and Clara Susan Gunn, Hunter Hughes and Carter Chrislaw. He is further survived by his beloved sister, Agnes Brewer; and many special nieces and nephews who have shown such kindnesses to him throughout his life.

Dick was predeceased by his parents, Charles (who also died on August 30) and Mary Ellen O'Leary; his in-laws, Botious and Frances (Tobin) Fanning; great-granddaughter, Siena Catherine Pearson; his brothers and sisters and their spouses: James (Mary) O'Leary, Charles (Catherine) O'Leary, Margaret (Jack) Conner, William O'Leary, Mary Ellen O'Leary, Catherine O'Leary, Vernice (Conrad) Oleston, Elizabeth (Malcolm) Cullen, Thomas (Colleen) O'Leary and Harry J. (Barbara) O'Leary; and brother-in-law, Ralyn Brewer. He was also predeceased by his sister-in-law and her husband Margaret (Patrick) Connors; brother-in-law and his wife William (Leona) Fanning; and brother-in-law Robert Fanning. He is further predeceased by several nieces and nephews.

"I would like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an after Glow of smiles when Life is done. I'd like to leave an echo Whispering softly Down the ways, Of happy times and Laughing times and Bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those Who grieve to dry Before the sun; Of happy memories that I Leave when Life is Done." ~Helen Lowrie Marshall

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at ST. WILLIAM CATHOLIC CHURCH. A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME. For online condolences and guestbook, please visit: www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com.