LEO MICHAEL O'HARA 1931-2004

BENDA, OHARA, KLEIN, ENGELHARDT, EVERMAN, BEIERMANN, YORMAN, KRUSE, METZGER, HIATT, TIFFIN, ELDER, CRAFT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/20/2005 at 20:14:09

Leo O'Hara

Leo O'Hara, age 72, died Tuesday, March 2, 2004, at his home in Postville. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 6, 2004, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Castalia. Rev. Dave L. Lenth officiated, with Rev. Cindy Arndt as guest pastor. Special music was provided by Marlys Hager and Ronald Meyer. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Castalia. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Leo Michael O'Hara, Sr., was born April 5, 1931, at Harpers Ferry, Iowa, to Albert Benda and Susan O'Hara. He was baptized in the Cherry Mound Catholic Church at Harpers Ferry, Iowa, and received his First Communion in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubuque. Leo lived in St. Mary's Orphanage, Dubuque, from the age of three until age 13 when he went to live with his foster parents, Lawrence and Romelda Klein. Leo attended the Waterloo Community Schools, the Yankton, S.D., School, and graduated from Postville High School in 1951.

On June 19, 1953, Leo was married to JoAnn Engelhardt in Decorah, Iowa. To this union seven children were born. They were divorced after 25 years of marriage. He has lived with his special friend, Beverly McNally, for the last 18 years.

Leo was employed at a greenhouse in Dubuque, the Groth Packing Company and the Postville Creamery in Postville, then the Carnation Plant in Castalia before transferring to the plant at Waverly. Following that he went to Swiss Valley at Luana, Hall Roberts' Son and Hygrade in Postville, the MPC in Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Wapsie Produce in Decorah.

Leo was a member of the Castalia Fire Department, Lutheran Brotherhood, and served as a Cub Scout Leader for many years. He was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville and had been a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia.

Leo enjoyed being with his family and friends, playing cards and horseshoes, gardening, and especially riding his bike. His dog, "Beanie", was very special to him as well. He was extremely patriotic and regularly attended the Veterans Day programs.

He was preceded in death by his birth parents; his foster parents; a son, Scott; a brother-in-law, Lewis Craft; and a nephew, Bruce Everman.

Survivors include his special friend, Beverly of Postville; his former wife, JoAnn of Castalia; three sons, Leo Michael (Mary) O'Hara, Jr. of Decorah, Mark (Kimberly) O'Hara of Kearney, Mo., and David O'Hara of Shawnee, Kansas; three daughters, Lynn (Ray) Beiermann of Jerseyville, Ill., Traci (Mark) Yorman of Bartlesville, Okla., and Lisa (Kirk) Kruse of Postville; seven grandchildren, Jenny Metzger, Kristi (Travis) Hiatt, Aaron Kruse, Sullavan O'Hara, Kelsey O'Hara, Tara Tiffin, and Maria O'Hara; one brother, Michael (Rita) Klein (Sr.) of Palatine, Ill.; two sisters, Kate (Bob) Elder of Waterloo and Gail Craft of Clinton, Iowa; and many nephews and nieces.

Casketbearers were Kevin Schultz, Tom Schultz, Larry Martie, Travis Hiatt, Gary Brown, Byron Everman, Jeff McNally, and Tico Lozano. Honorary casketbearers were John Schlee, John O'Hara, Ed Engelhardt, Roger Engelhardt, Leon Flees O'Hara, Ronnie Meisner, Mike Klein, Jr., Rob Elder, Jr., Robert Brandt, Leon Everman, and Gerald Hager.

©Waukon Standard 2004
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 3/10/2004