Marilyn J O'Neel

Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at the Friend United Methodist Church with Pastor April Wegehaupt officiating.  Interment is in Andrew Cemetery.  Visitation is Tuesday 2-8:00 p.m. at Lauber Funeral Home, Friend, and 1 hour prior to services at church.  Pallbearers are:  Galen Tuttle, Ethan O’Neel, Matt Jonas, Jason Norris, Samuel Pendleton and Benjamin O’Neel.  Food and fellowship to follow back at the church.  Memorials have been established to the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation or to the Friend Historical Society. Livestreaming of the service for Marilyn will be provided by logging on to the Friend United Methodist church facebook page (facebook.com) https://facebook.com/groups/137241139772775/?ref=share

Marilyn Jo Jonas was born Friday, March 13, 1931 to Joseph and Mary (Hruska) Jonas in their home 3 miles south of Dorchester, the oldest of three children, and passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021 at the Tabitha Care Center, The Gardens, in Crete at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 11 days.

Marilyn attended and graduated from 8th grade from country school Goldenrod School District 42.  She then attended high school at Dorchester High School where she graduated with the class of 1948 as their valedictorian. Upon graduation she completed 12 credits at the University of Nebraska to obtain her elementary school teaching certificate and then taught at school districts 64 and 42 where she had attended.  She was the last teacher at school district 42 with two of her 8 students being her brothers Dale and Larry Jonas.  Marilyn met Boyd A. O’Neel at a dance at Saline Center Hall and on August 25, 1951 they were married at the Friend Methodist Church.  After Boyd’s return from the service, they made their home on a farm south of Friend.  Their union was blessed with four children, Chere Lee, Randall Allan, Terry (Terrance) Dean, and Gregg Ray.  In 1955, they moved to the farm which they purchased in 1966 and where they continued to make their home, farming, dairying and raising cattle.  Marilyn enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, listening to Czech music and helping Chere cater on occasions.  If you were working on the O’Neel farm or came for a visit one thing you were most likely treated to, was a good home cooked meal by Marilyn.  After their children were grown and the two younger sons were in college Boyd and Marilyn enjoyed taking trips with friends to Las Vegas, California, and Texas.  They usually went during spring break so the sons could milk the cows and do the cattle chores.  Marilyn enjoyed a trip to Germany and Austria with her siblings and Chere and Gary where they visited the apartment that her mother had grown up in.  Marilyn continued to live on the farm after Boyd’s death on August 19, 2004.  Marilyn took another trip to Europe where she enjoyed seeing the Czech Republic.  In May of 2014 she moved to the Friendship Terrace in Friend, where she resided until she moved to the The Gardens in September of 2017 where she was very content and enjoyed all the activities and outings.  She was a member of the Friend United Methodist Church, ZCBJ Tabor Hall and served as president of the Nimble Fingers Club.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Chere and Gary Tuttle, Friend, sons and daughter-in-law, Randy O’Neel, Terry and Diane O’Neel, all of Friend, Gregg O’Neel, Short Hills, NJ, six grandchildren, Galen and Jamie Tuttle, Friend, Melissa and Jason Norris, Liberty, ,MO, Danielle and Samuel Pendleton, Friend, Ethan and Kayla O’Neel, also of Friend, Ben and Jillian O’Neel Short Hills, NJ, great-grandchildren, Peyton and Brooks Norris, Avery and Reese Tuttle and Natalie Pendleton, brothers and sisters in-law, Dale and Janet Jonas, Lincoln, Larry and JiJi Jonas, Baton Rouge, LA, Francis O’Neel, Lincoln, several nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Boyd.

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