Obituary of John J. O’Leary, Sr. John J. O’Leary, Sr., 100, of Clinton, Missouri, died Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Evergreen Community Nursing Home in Olathe, Kansas. He was born December 23, 1916 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of John Patrick and Mary Francis O’Leary.
John graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marines, following the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. John served as a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater. In June 1944, he fought to retake the island of Guam from the Japanese. He later witnessed the bombing of Iwo Jima from his troop’s ship. After serving in the military, John started a lifelong career with Hallmark Cards as a salesman, retiring 31 years later as a Vice President in Marketing.
In 1947, John married Vera Mae Fox. They had two children, Cindy and John Jr. After Vera passed away, John married Dixie Batschelett of Clinton, Missouri. John passed away on their 20th wedding anniversary. John was an avid outdoorsman and claimed that he didn’t just like fishing, he loved fishing! John was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Clinton Rotary Club.
Surviving are his wife, Dixie O’Leary, two children, Cindy O’Leary of Venice, Florida, and John O’Leary, Jr. of Cave Creek, Arizona, and grandchildren Danny O’Leary and Katie O’Leary. Also surviving are stepchildren Donald Batschelett II and his wife Christina of Clinton, Missouri, and grandchildren Sarah, Donald III, Crystal, Chelsea, and Channing; Debbie Chappell and her husband Todd of Gardner, Kansas, and grandchildren Stephanie and Jake; Diana Christensen and her husband Jim of Overland Park, Kansas. Preceding John in death was his first wife Vera Mae O’Leary and grandson Brian O’Leary.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 16, 2017, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, 601 S. 4th St. in Clinton, Missouri. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Ducks Unlimited or the Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Clinton, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.