Obituary for JoAnn O’Neill

JoAnn Catherine O’Neill

January 22, 1936 – August 17, 2017

JoAnn O’Neill, long-time resident of the Ponca City area, died at Via Christi Village surrounded by her family on Thursday, August 17,2017 just days after her 62nd wedding anniversary. This ended an eleven-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

Friends and family may come by Trout Funeral Home & Crematory on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Rosary Service will be held on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 6:00 pm in the Chapel of the Trout Funeral Home with the Deacon Robinson from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 10:00 am at St Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Carson Krittenbrink as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Ryan Meyer, Adam O’Neill, Blake O’Neill, Wesley O’Neill, John O’Neill, and Brian O’Neill. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Mike Perry, Adam Slattery, Derek Dotson, James Moore, and Kyle Miller.

JoAnn was the first-born child of Cletus F. and Anita Hodapp Zimmerman on January 22, 1936 in Harlan, Iowa. Her childhood was spent in Harlan. During the war years, the family lived in Uvalde, Dallas and Houston, Texas.

They moved to Ponca City in 1948, when her dad started employment with Continental Oil Company as chief pilot of the Aviation Department. She attended St. Mary’s School, graduating in 1954. Following high school, she attended Ponca City Business College and worked a short time at Conoco.

On August 13, 1955 she married her high school sweetheart, Ed O’Neill at St. Mary’s Church. The family lived in Ponca City until 1965 when they moved to their new home on the family dairy farm in Osage County. She loved living in the country and became a full partner in the dairy farm life. She would take on any job day or night, except for moving irrigation pipe. She lost her boots one too many times in the wet black gumbo and said enough of that! She helped her mother-in law, and later her sister-in-law, raise heifer calves. Over the years they raised over 2,000 calves.

After her children started school, she found time to be a 4-H club leader, member of the FFA Booster club, the Po-Hi Tip-Off and Dug-Out Club. She loved attending her son’s basketball and baseball games. She loved hosting feasts for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter for her large family. She was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and enjoyed working bereavement dinners. She was most happy on her Kubota mower or Honda 4-wheeler on the farm. She lived on the farm 47 years before moving to Ponca City in 2012.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Ed of the home, her daughter, Karen and husband Curtis Meyer of Ponca City, son, Mickey and wife Melissa of Oklahoma City, son, Gary and wife Darla of Oklahoma City, and son, Dale and wife Carla of Ponca City. JoAnn is also survived by her ten grandchildren, Michelle and Mike Perry of Bartlesville, Ryan Meyer of Houston, TX, Chelsey and Adam Slattery of Yukon, Mandi and Derek Dotson of Yukon, Mallory O’Neill of Oklahoma City, Morgan and Kyle Miller of Oklahoma City, Adam O’Neill of Oklahoma City, Kristina and James Moore of Minot, ND, Blake O’Neill and fiancée Emily of Yukon, Wesley O’Neill of Ponca City, step-grandchild, Thomas Moser of Oklahoma City, and former caretaker of JoAnn, Kayla Valencia and husband Devon of Ashland, KY, who they considered a grandchild, her four great grandchildren, Sydney and Allyson Perry, Jensen Moore and Nora Slattery and two step great-grandchildren, Madisyn Greene and Connor Scott. She is also survived by her brother, Clete and wife Mary Ann of Houston, brother-in-law Darvin Bordelon of Pearland, TX, brother-in-law, Jim and Pauline O’Neill of Ponca City, sister-in-law, Libby Long and husband, Mike of Sedan, KS. JoAnn also has 16 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Bernice Vorheis and Carol Bordelon.

In October 2015, JoAnn made the move to Via Christi. She adapted to life, always had a smile and never complained. Her favorite time was being pushed around the complex in her wheel chair where she would high-five the staff. The family was so proud of how she handled this transition and so thankful for the great care she received from Hospice of North Central Oklahoma and Via Christi.

Memorials are established at Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601 and St. Mary’s School Foundation, 415 S. 7th St, Ponca City, OK 74601.

The family will be at the daughter’s home, 2413 Copperfield Ave.

Source: Trout Funeral Home