John O’Neill passed away on June 22, at age 87, surrounded by his closest family. Not one to be bested by death, John stopped breathing for a period of time only to, with his characteristic stubbornness, come back for another round of goodbyes. He is survived by his wife, Dawn; his son, John; and his siblings, Virginia and Bob. He was preceded in his passing by his younger brother, Mike; his older brother, Pat; and his parents, Ruby and Peter.
John was passionate about motorcycles, cars, lawn work, Hershey bars, his faith as a life-long Jehovah’s Witness, and, above all, his wife. A man of great personal warmth, any who came into contact with him were immediately struck by his unique sense of humor and his invented vocabulary (which are lovingly known as “O’Neillism’s”).
He would often reminisce about riding the annual Jack Pine Enduro, one of the most challenging motorcycle races known to man. One year, John and Steve McQueen raced the Enduro riding matching metallic-blue Triumphs. John was even tapped to design the race route one year, much to the chagrin of riders who didn’t have the skill or knowledge to cross a bog. John’s Triumph has been on display in his office since he stopped riding.
John founded O’Neill Body Shop in 1969 and, along with his three brothers, had a career in automotive repair. He made a name for himself by mastering the art of making a crashed Corvette look better than when it did when it rolled off the line.
John loved working in the yard alongside his wife. Together they meticulously cared for the landscaping of their home and each of the Kingdom Halls they attended. Even in his mid 80’s, he would get into “trouble” at his Kingdom Hall for taking care of some landscape detail that was not up to his standards.
John demonstrated his faith through service, and he was not afraid to get his hands dirty. He served as an Elder since the 1970s and as Presiding Overseer of the North and then Cascade congregations for years. He was instrumental in the building of both the Cascade and Lowell Kingdom Halls, personally donating the land and then volunteering in their construction with his wife and son. Though he was very proud of this, because of his humble nature, very few knew the extent of his generosity.
John loved the members of the congregation, and he was the first to be there when someone was in need, sick, or moving. Because of his deep empathy and lack of pretension or judgment, people would seek John out for counsel and a listening ear. He lovingly interacted with everyone in a way that made them feel respected and important.
Above all, John loved Dawn. He was continuously amazed that the high school drop-out married the valedictorian. As an avid photographer, he documented their life together with beautiful shots that one might mistake for the artist Slim Aarons.
John lived his life as a quirky, loving, and hard-working husband, father, and minister. He was also a successful business owner and real estate investor who generously provided for his family and community. Even so, he always gravitated towards other humble, hard-working people. The universe truly broke the mold when it made this one.
In line with John’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home at 3980 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Please feel free to stop by during that time to offer condolences to John’s family.