Thomas Francis O'Hare 1925-2006

BURROUGHS, OHARE, PHILLIPS, DEPUEW, ALLEN, WINKE, WEBER, PLATTE, RASMUSSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/15/2006 at 09:43:17

Thomas O'Hare

Thomas F. O'Hare, 80, of Waukon, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 13, 2006, at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City, Iowa, following a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 16 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial with military graveside rites was in St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Francis O'Hare was born December 16, 1925, in Waukon, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Myril (Burroughs) O'Hare. Tom was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. He attended French Creek No. 6 country school and graduated from Waukon High School in 1944.

April 7, 1945, he married Jean Phillips in Decorah, Iowa. Tom served in the US Army from 1946 to 1947 during the Korean War. Tom and Jean farmed in the French Creek Township, Hanover area for 15 years. They moved to Waukon in 1968. Tom worked for Calhoun Creamery for 22 years. He also drove the Veterans Affairs van to Iowa City for ten years.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and American Legion. Tom enjoyed watching old time westerns, especially John Wayne, listening to polka music, reading, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Tom was also an avid Hawkeye fan.

Survivors include his wife, Jean of Waukon; his children, Michael (Virginia) of Lansing, Barb (Mike) DePuew of Las Vegas, Nev., Patricia O'Hare of St. Louis, Mo., Bob (Sally) of Waverly, Iowa, Rick (Nancy) of St. Louis, Marsha (Mike) Allen of Holmen, Wis., Debbie Winke of Waukon, Karen (Randy) Weber of New Albin, Greg (Tracy) of Maryland Heights, Mo., Kris (Mark) Platte of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Scott (Pam) of West Union, Iowa; 28 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray (Karen) of Waukon; two sisters-in-law, Marjorie O'Hare of St. Joe, Mo., and Carol O'Hare of Monroe, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Helen Rasmusson; and two brothers, Jim and Joe O'Hare.

Honorary casketbearers were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers were Tim, Andy, Shawn, Justin and Caleb O'Hare, Josh Allen, Chad Winke, and Jeremy Weber.

Waukon Standard, September 20, 2006