KEVIN D. O’NEILL
KEVIN D. O’NEILL
Kevin D. O’Neill, 68, of Fredonia, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at Fredonia Regional Hospital in Fredonia.
Kevin Dennis O’Neill was born July 9, 1954, in Okeene, Oklahoma the son of Eugene “Jim” Edward O’Neill and Lenora (Luebbers) O’Neill.
He graduated from Okeene High School in 1972. He later attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. He received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.
On August 12, 1978, in Moline, he was united in marriage to Connie Gillespie and she survives at the home.
Kevin worked at West Elk High School in Howard, as an industrial arts/shop teacher. He then moved to Fredonia, where he taught at Altoona Midway in Altoona and also taught industrial arts/ shop classes.
After many years as a teacher, he was employed with Lafarge Cement Company for 14 years. While he was working for the cement plant, he was going to Pittsburg State University and received his Masters Degree in Industrial Arts.
In 1990 he became Instructor of Engineering Technology and Drafting at Independence Community College in Independence for 24 years.
Kevin enjoyed bowhunting for deer, woodworking and he loved to tinker with lawnmowers and trailers. He also liked fly-fishing, fly-tying, taking pictures of wildlife and nature watching. He was known as the real MacGyver, as he could fabricate and fix almost anything. After he retired, he spent a lot of his free time at the Kitchen Table, visiting with family and friends.
He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Board of Regents for Junior Colleges and Kansas Bowhunters Association. He also helped start the FAB Lab at ICC in Independence; was a Boy Scout Leader and Little League Baseball Coach.
Survivors include his wife Connie of the home; children, Brian O’Neill and his wife Lisa of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jennifer Pfizenmaier and her husband Nicholas of Clay Center, Kansas, Sean O’Neill and his wife Lesli of Ellinwood, Kansas; granddaughter, Frances O’Neill of Ellinwood, Kansas; siblings, Karen Bunker and her husband Gene of Dodge City, Kansas, Father John O’Neill of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Mary Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Patrick O’Neill and his wife Diane of Burke, Virginia and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, Wilbur and June Gillespie and brother- in-law Scott Johnson. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fredonia, with Father Stuart M. Smeltzer, celebrant.
The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M, Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the church.
Memorial remembrances are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Wounded Warrior Project, and they may be left or mailed to Wickham Family Funeral Home, 510 North 7th, Fredonia, Kansas 66736.