John Francis O'Leary

John F. O'Leary passed away on November 27, 2025. He was born on July 25, 1946 in East Grand Forks, MN, the third of six children of Keith and Evelyn O'Leary. He lived for many years in Grand Forks, ND, for 20 years in Grand Rapids, MN, and he recently joined his daughters and grandkids in Wilmington, NC.

John was lucky to have parents who modeled being good citizens and good neighbors, valuing family, contributing to the community, and taking hard times to the chin and good times to heart with an unmatched dry Irish sense of humor. They raised six kids in a modest home and left a legacy of love and service. John passed that on to his two daughters.

Raised in Catholic Schools and briefly tempted into the seminary, John called himself a bureaucrat all of his professional life. That was an understatement. He led the Grand Forks Housing and Urban Development department for many years and directed the Corps of Engineers in Grand Rapids and the Midwestern Division of the Federal Economic Development Department in St. Paul before his retirement.

He was always the best kind of bureaucrat, leading with humanity and diligence and humor. Whether he was helping a homeless person find housing or meeting with senators or the President, he kept his moral compass tuned and did the right thing for the right reasons. That's who we want our bureaucrats to be.

In every job, John always said he was part of a team of talented people doing good work. He talked for decades about the contributions of past coworkers, and he was reluctant to take credit for his own. That being said, John was one of the community leaders who helped Grand Forks through the historic flood of 1997, giving individuals the opportunity to find new homes and businesses the chance to find new opportunities. He also spent months in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina supporting the city as it rebuilt its infrastructure and identity. Despite his modesty his professional legacy lives on.

In his personal life he loved fishing and being out on the lake, whether taking his daughters out with the 10 horsepower Johnson outboard motor, or taking his brothers and grandsons and nephews out to look for some largemouth bass, or taking his beloved wife Jane out for a leisurely sunset pontoon ride on Lake Pokegama.

He and Jane loved to travel, and from Rome to Argentina he found new experiences and the joy of hearing new people's stories. He lived a life of curiosity, a trait shared by his parents and siblings. "Let's just see what's out there" is the best way to approach life. He was a keen observer of people, which made him such a great humorist and storyteller. In his final year he was every nurse and doctor's favorite patient because he showed such appreciation for their care and brightened their days with his levity and his ability to crack wry jokes about the indignities of being in the hospital. He was an odd one and we loved him for it.

John was a creative with a tender heart and he found and recognized beauty in the world. A skilled bread maker, woodworker, and stained glass artist, he had a real love of music and historic architecture and other people's creative contributions to the world, and he shared it openly.

He also put action to his values. He served on the Habitat for Humanity board in Grand Rapids and he felt seeing working families find housing was one of his greatest contributions. He also served on the board of the MacRostie Arts Center supporting artists in a rural community, and he made many quiet donations to public radio, food banks, and individuals in need.

He was proud of his daughter Christina for her photography and writing, proud of his daughter Laura for her nursing and sewing, proud of his wife Jane for her sharp business sense and her social skills, and proud of his five grandkids for every conceivable reason because he was their Papa.

John experienced his fair share of loss in life. When he was younger he lost his dad and brother within two weeks. This fall he lost a brother and sister within two weeks. He approached grieving with the Irish idea of letting their memories be a blessing. We will do the same. We adore him and always will.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jane; his daughters Christina Beam (Erik) and Laura O'Leary (Cully); grandkids Eli, Jackson, Juniper, Tennessee, and Alve; brothers Donovan and Kippy; sister-in-law Meg (Gerald); brother-in-law David Benson (Sue); many nieces and nephews he cherished; and his pampered cat of 16 years, Olie. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jim and Tom, his only sister, Merrie Doble, and his brother-in-law, Bob Benson.

The family is planning a private service in Minnesota in the new year.

This is a time of need for many of the people John served in his life. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if those who knew him donated to Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank CENC or NourishNC, please see link below.

John's family has entrusted his care to Wilmington Funeral and Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403, phone 910-791-9099