O'Hara, John Roger 1933 - 2017
OHARA, RYAN, LARSON, SCHWARZ, ZEIMET, SCUDELLA, SPARRGROVE, GRAY, KINNISON, HAGEMAN, MCCABE, SAND, STOGDELL, KERRIGAN, HALWEB, COLE, BOHR, BENDA, QUAYLE, POOLE, EMERSON, CLARK, SPARRGROVE-NELSON, WOODRUFF, HOBSON, RICE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/12/2017 at 15:21:28
John Roger O’Hara, age 84, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at his home in Decorah, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA and also after 9:30 a.m., at the church on Thursday morning.
John was born September 23, 1933, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Ryan) O’Hara in rural Allamakee County. John graduated from St Patrick’s Catholic School in Waukon in 1952. John married Kathleen Ryan on May 14, 1960 and to this union five children were born. The couple later divorced. John always wanted to be a farmer and to that end he worked for various farmers until he was given the opportunity to operate his own farm in the Frankville area. In 1968 John realized his dream and bought a farm in Glenwood Township. On this farm he raised dairy cows, hogs and horses as well as the crops to feed them. For a number of years he was also a Funk’s seed corn dealer. John learned how to raise dairy heifers for showing even though he had never been in 4-H. His love of horses was embraced by his children and he enjoyed riding in a couple of parades. John enjoyed showing off his refurbished tractors in parades and rides with the Rivers and Bluffs Tractor Club. He was an avid fan of classic country music and dancing. On August 21, 1999 John was united in marriage to Jenny Larson. Together they enjoyed dancing, playing cards, bowling, having friends over for coffee and a little traveling. In 2002 they moved into Decorah. John continued to help out at the farm as often as he could. As important as his farm was to him, John put his family first by hosting the annual O’Hara family reunion, holiday celebrations, and attending events that involved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He taught his children to be good workers, to be a good sibling, build a fence, drive a tractor, how to dance, but especially how to be a good parent.
John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 18 years, Jenny, his parents Joseph and Catherine O’Hara, his siblings; Francis Schwarz, Dorothy (Barney) Zeimet, Donald (Janet) O’Hara, Robert O’Hara, Jim (Mae) O’Hara, and Kathryn (Tony) Scudella.
He is survived by his brother Kenneth (Shirley) O’Hara, Waukon; his five children: Peggy (John) Sparrgrove, Castalia; Kayleen (Jerry Gray) Kinnison, Mazomanie, WI; Patsy (Mark Hageman) O’Hara, Decorah; Roger (Katrina McCabe) O’Hara, Decorah; and Keri (Tim) Sand, Mabel, MN. His stepchildren: Chuck Larson, Waukon; Steve (Jean) Larson, Livermore; Deanne (John) Stogdell, Mt Pleasant; and Thomas (Karen) Larson, Richfield, MN. Twenty-five grandchildren; Ryan (Brianne) Sparrgrove, Amanda, Joshua, Travis Sparrgrove; Mikayla Kinnison, Colten ( Meghan Kerrigan) Kinnison, Jesse (Alyssa) Halweg, Jenna (Scott Cole) Halweg, Montana & Cavin Bohr; Zach, Desiree Benda; Addyson, Isabella, Gabrielle Sand; Kristen (Jim) Quayle; Michael Poole, Jeremy Larson, Jessica (Matt) Emerson, Christopher Larson, Eric (Becky) Larson, Karen (Dallas) Clark, Jeff (Shawna) Larson, John Russ Stodgell, Conrad Stodgell, Thomas Stodgell, Rachel & Sarah Larson . Twenty-two Great-Grandchildren; Dillion, Blake, Chloe Sparrgrove; Taylor Sparrgrove-Nelson; Brekin, Brinley Halweg; Grayson Benda; Mike Woodruff; Lexie Hobson; Brianne Rice; Cameron Emerson; Jacob, Connor Larson; Dane, Camden, Hazel Clark; Eddie, Charlotte, Logan, Kendra Larson; Gabrielle, Hendrix Stodgell and numerous generations of nephews, nieces, and friends.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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