James O'Neil

A man of great generosity, dignity and compassion, James ONeil was a bright light in the world around him. He was all about family, and although he was a devoted father he just may have argued that being a doting grandfather was the role he had waited for his entire life. No stranger to hard work, Jim piloted a successful career accomplishing so much of which to be proud, yet his humility and spirit of generosity is to be admired. With an insatiable sense of adventure for the world around him, Jim traveled to some of the most glorious places with the love of his life, Sandy, by his side. Life will never be the same without him here, but Jims memory will remain forever near and dear to the hearts and lives of those too numerous to count. The year 1941 is the year that is remembered for the vicious attack on our nations naval base in Pearl Harbor, which left President Franklin D. Roosevelt with no choice but to engage in the hostilities of WWII the very next day, December 8th. It was just prior to this memorable day that a young couple from Muskegon, Michigan, was filled with great joy to greet their healthy baby boy born on September 29th. James Leo was the second of six children born to his parents, Henry and Margaret (Dolan) ONeil, and was raised in the family home on the corner of Southern Avenue and Sanford Street in Muskegon alongside his sisters, Margaret, Kathy, and Maureen, and his brothers, Michael and Denny. His father owned ONeil Equipment Company, a local business that sold construction equipment, while his mother was a busy homemaker. For the most part Jim experienced an upbringing that was reflective of the times. As a family they attended St. Jeans Catholic Church, and Jim was a student at local Catholic schools. He enjoyed typical boyhood activities like neighborhood sports with his buddies including lively hockey games during the winter on backyard rinks and Muskegon Lake. Jim even lost several teeth during one such game! Life was forever changed for Jim when he met the young girl who stole his heart as a teenager. Her name was Sandra Mattila, and she lived in the same neighborhood. It didnt take long before they were sweethearts, and they dated throughout school. After Jim graduated from Muskegon Catholic High School in 1959 he found work at various places including for his father and for several other companies in town. Jim also sold real estate for the Sun Agency for a time. As Jim and Sandys relationship continued to deepen, she went to college, graduating with a teaching degree. It was just a short time after that when they were married on August 8, 1964, at St. Jeans Catholic Church. Jims joy turned to sorrow about a year later with the death of his father. As a result, Jim stepped into the role of the man of the family, offering steady support to his mother. He also helped keep his brothers in line, which was anything but easy. Generous by nature, Jim was always willing to give his time and support. New and exciting changes were in store for Jim and Sandy when they became the parents of two children: Kristine in 1967 and Scott in 1968. Their family of four eventually settled in Roosevelt Park while Jim became a very successful insurance agent for AAA where he remained for over 35 years until his retirement in 2006. It was easy to see that Jim loved being a father. He was an active part of his childrens lives, never missing a school or sporting event. Jim was on the sidelines to watch Kris play tennis and rev up the crowd as a cheerleader and Scott play a variety of sports, particularly hockey and golf. Jims children always knew they were loved through his unending devotion to them. Jims life was filled with so many things he loved, many of which were enjoyed with Sandy. Through the years they traveled all over the world including on over 15 cruises in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Other memorable trips to Paris, London, Venice, Europe, Las Vegas, and Hawaii were priceless. Jim's mother-in-law, Dorothy, frequently traveled with them as well as she was like a second mother to him. There were also annual family trips to Disney World in Florida for over a dozen years, usually during spring breaks, and they often went to other vacation destinations in Florida, too. Jim and Sandy loved walking and could regularly be seen making the rounds in the neighborhood. They also liked walking the pier in Grand Haven or taking leisurely strolls along the area Lake Michigan shoreline. The couple also enjoyed getting together with friends. As his friends and family can attest, there was nothing that brought Jim more joy than being with his grandchildren. He was a regular at all their events and loved just dropping by. He was a donut grandpa as he frequently dropped off donuts for them, and he was particularly fond of powered sugar donuts with butter on them. A lifelong resident of the Muskegon area, Jim was an active part of his community. He belonged to the Muskegon Elks for a time, the Vikings, St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, and the Mona Lake Boat Club as he loved boating as often as he could. Jim also liked to golf, too, and according to his son he liked playing with bad golfers as they made him feel better about his own game! Despite being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis several years ago, Jim lived a normal life for several years. While he was still in good enough health he took the whole family on a memorable trip to Europe. He rarely mentioned his sickness to others, and he eventually needed to be put on oxygen. An extraordinary man who was so much fun to be around, James ONeil was a true gift. He was vibrant and outgoing, able to strike up a conversation with anyone with ease and had a charming Irish wit. Jim loved being with his family more than anywhere else and was so proud of his children throughout their lives. The legacy he leaves behind will be proudly carried on by the children and grandchildren he adored. James L. O'Neil died on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Jims family includes his wife, Sandra; daughter, Kristine (Jim) McKinley of Norton Shores; son, Scott (Beth) O'Neil of Norton Shores; grandchildren, Kelsey McKinley, Kendall McKinley, Nathan O'Neil, and Carter O'Neil; sisters, Margaret Schoolcraft of Grand Rapids, Kathy O'Neil of Muskegon, Maureen (Rick) Bogue of Muskegon; and brother, Denny O'Neil of Muskegon. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brother and his wife, Michael (Karen) O'Neil; mother-in-law, Dorothy Bouwman; and brother-in-law, John Schoolcraft. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Phil Salmonowicz officiating. Visit with Jims family and friends on Friday, 4-7 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations can be made to Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory.