Cadillac News

Jack Whyte ONeill

"CADILLAC , a longtime Cadillac resident, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002 at his home, surrounded by his seven sons and their families. He was 87.

He was born Feb. 6, 1915 in Grand Rapids to Christine E. (Whyte) and Henry P. ONeill. On July 27, 1939, he married Dorothy Ann Kroth in Paw Paw. She died on July 25, 2001.

Mr. ONeill graduated from Ottawa High School and attended Grand Rapids Community College. While working for Standard Oil, he was promoted to district manager and assigned to the Cadillac area. He turned down further promotions with Standard Oil which would have taken him and his young family to Chicago. The ONeills decided to make Cadillac their permanent home.

Mr. and Mrs. ONeill built two businesses in Cadillac, ONeills Ace Hardware in 1951 and ONeill Business Products in 1968. The ONeills retired in 1970 and spent winters in Arizona and summers in Cadillac.

Mr. ONeill was a faithful member of St. Ann Catholic Church for more than 61 years. In addition to his business interests, he served the Cadillac community as Chamber of Commerce president, founder and first president of the Cadillac Industrial Fund, one of the founders and a member of the first board of directors of the First National Bank of Cadillac, president of the Cadillac Retailers Association, president of the Michigan Retail Hardware Association, president of the Cadillac PTA and director of the Scenic Trails Boy Scouts Board. During his retirement, he enjoyed extensive travel, golf and reading.

Survivors include his sons, Michael (Carol), Dennis (Jeanne), Brian (Marcia), Timothy (Mary), Regan (Kris), Patrick (Dawn) and Kevin (Janie); 24 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Ann, he was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ann Catholic Church with Rev. Patrick T. Cawley officiating. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Cadillac.

Visitation is 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Peterson Funeral Home in Cadillac. A prayer service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercy Hospital Improvement Fund."