Boyd A. O'Neel Obituary (1926

In Memory OfBOYD A. O'NEELBoyd Alby O'Neel, of Friend, died Thursday, August 19, 2004, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 8 days. He was born on December 11, 1926, on a farm near Milford, Nebraska to Willis Lynville and Alma Magdalene (Miller) O'Neel, the eldest of two sons. As a young boy he attended country school through the 8th grade and started high school in Milford until it was time to help his dad pick corn ? he never went back. When Boyd was fourteen his family moved to a farm southwest of Friend where Boyd helped his dad farm and eventually rented his own land to farm. When Boyd was eighteen he was drafted into the army and was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK. He was again called into service in 1952 and was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. On August 25, 1951, Boyd was united in marriage to Marilyn Jonas of Dorchester and to this union four children, Chere, Randy, Terry and Gregg were born. For a short time after Boyd returned from the service, they lived south of Friend. In 1955 they moved to a farm which they purchased in 1966 and where they continued to make their home, farming and raising cattle. At one time he had a hereford cow/calf operation making many trips to the Omaha stockyards with his cattle truck. Randy helped Boyd farm and do custom work. In his spare time he enjoyed collecting old John-Deere tractors, many of which he used on the farm. Horses also were an important part of Boyd's life and as a young man he broke horses to ride. He later developed an interest in draft horses and bought a team of Belgians which he enjoyed taking to parades and other events. He sold them but when one died he bought the other back and "Ole Luke" is enjoying his retirement here! He also owned quarter horses. Boyd was often described as being a stubborn cowboy. He said that he got through this life by being tough and with the attitude of "I've beat it before and I'll beat it again." However, in his later years, his tough attitude was mellowing. Boyd enjoyed T-bone steak and loved coconut cream pie at the sale barn.He is survived by his wife, Marilyn O'Neel, daughter and son-in-law, Chere and Gary Tuttle, all of Friend, sons and daughters-in-law, Randy O'Neel, Terry and Diane O'Neel, all of Friend, Gregg and Jayne O'Neel, Short Hills, NJ, six grandchildren, Galen and Melissa Tuttle, Danielle and Ethan O'Neel, Ben and Jillian O'Neel, brother, Lowell O'Neel, Lincoln, brothers-in-law and spouses, Dale and Janet Jonas, Wahoo, Larry and JiJi Jonas, Baton Rouge, LA, many aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. Boyd was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Alma and a nephew, Dennis O'Neel.A Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2004, at the Friend United Methodist Church with Rev. Tess Hufford officiating. Interment will be in Andrew Cemetery, Friend. Visitation is from 1-9 pm on Friday with the family greeting friends from 7-9 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend. Memorials have been established to Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation. Melissa Tuttle offered Family Memories and Terry O'Neel read "Cowboy" which he had written about his dad. Margaret Ackerman, organist and Bonnie Miller, pianist accompanied the Men's Trio of Dick Weber, Dustin Weber and Rod Eigsti as they sang "Because He Lives" and "What A Day That Will Be". The congregation sang verses 1,3 and 4 of "How Great Thou Art". Pallbearers were David O'Neel, Gerald McCullough, Tom Weber, Paul Huber, Harvey Weber, David Bruntz and Matt Jonas. Honorary Pallbearers were Dwaine Bruntz, Charles Maxon, Bob Mead, Dale Hostetler, Don Tuttle, Paul Weber, Dale Due, Richard Michl, Mike O'Neel and Howard Miller.