Maurice O'Neill (1919-2008)

ONEILL

Posted By: Bobbie (email)
Date: 10/29/2009 at 17:43:02

The Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa
January 24, 2008

Maurice O'Neill, 88, of Council Bluffs, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2008, at Risen Son.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, January 15, at 11:00 a.m., at the Queen of Apostles Church. Interment was in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

Maurice O'Neill, was born on July 15, 1919 in Clarion, the son of Hugh and Delia Chambers O'Neill. He graduated from the Clarion High School in 1937 and attended Loras College in Dubuque before graduating from the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science.

Maurice was married on June 12, 1944. He and his wife, Marie moved to Council Bluffs where he worked for the Beem-Belford Funeral Home. In 2000, the O'Neills merged with the Cutler Funeral Home to start the Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home. He worked until the age of 86, when he retired for health reasons.

Maurice was a member of the St. Peter's Church, honorary member of the Knights Of Columbus #1045 where he served as financial secretary for 26 years, charter member, past president, past district governor of Serra Club International, where he received the Serran of the Year Award in 1997, Mercy Hospital Heritage Award winner and former board member, former Pottawattamie County Coroner, charter member of the Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation, Phillip's Cupboard, Downtown Kiwanis member, charter member of the St. Albert School Board and served on their Educational Foundation, served on various fund-raisers at the school and became a member of their Wall of Fame. He also served on the Municipal Housing Board and was moderator at Iowa Western for funeral directors and was Master of Ceremony for many events, including the roast for Governor Terry Branstad.

Maurice is survived by his wife, Marie; daughters, Nancy Dowdle and husband, Jim of Clive, Colleen Paulsen and husband, Greg of Hartley and Kathleen Zajic and husband, Mike of McClelland, Iowa; sons, Pat and wife, Joanne of Chesterfield, Missouri, Rev. Thomas of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Jim of Yorktown, Virginia, Tim and wife, Sally and Dan and wife, Alison, all of Omaha, Nebraska; Steve and wife, Sherry and Matt and wife, Michelle, all of Council Bluffs; 24 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Helen and Eileen: and two brothers, Francis and John.