John O'Donnell Obituary

Jack O'Donnell, 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, at home in Stevens Point on May 31, 2025. He was loved by all who knew him.
Jack was born on July 1, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to James and Helen (Engeln) O'Donnell and was the youngest of five children.
He went to St. Brendan's grammar school and Tilden Tech High School. A gifted artist, he was offered a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago but chose, instead, to serve his country. He joined the United States Air Force at 18 years old and was stationed in Japan and Korea during the Korean War where he served honorably between 1947 and 1951. When Jack returned from the war, he joined the Chicago Police Department where he was soon promoted to the rank of Detective in the Auto-theft division which, as he recounted, covered just about every area of crime.
Jack was blessed with movie-star looks. He was also quite the raconteur, had a devastating sense of humor and was a brilliant dancer as well. He met Peggy Keefe, then a recent college graduate, at the Red Circle Bar in Chicago, where she would sing Irish songs. They soon fell in love. They were married on St. Patrick's Day in 1954. Their first child, Mary, followed on June 9, 1955.
Their marriage was fruitful, to say the least, and full of adventure. They had 9 children, 7 boys and 2 girls. Jack always loved Wisconsin and his favorite hobby was loading the kids up in the station wagon and taking them out of the Windy city to go camping at Devil's Lake and in the North woods. On these trips, he liked to look up real estate opportunities in the local papers. While camping one summer, they found a farm near Junction City. So, in 1967, Jack and Peggy decided to take early retirement from their jobs - Jack from the Chicago Police Department and Peggy the Chicago Board of Education where she had been a school teacher, and moved the family to the country.
Jack got a local job working at Midland Feed Mill in Junction City, became a Boy Scout leader (with 7 sons!) and soon established himself as a trustworthy and valued member of the local community. In 1970, hoping to offer his law enforcement experience to benefit his community, he ran for sheriff of Portage County, but lost by only a handful of votes.
He was hired to be the Supervisor of Transportation for the Stevens Point School District, managing well over 50 bus drivers, buses, routes and presided over the design and building of the new (and current) bus garage that had previously been at Bukolt Park.
After his time as the Supervisor of Transportation, Jack began a new career with Cardinal Carriers of St. Louis, Missouri working as a ship mate on transport barges and towboats. A proud member of the Maritime Union, he sailed throughout the Midwest and the South via the Mississippi River System working 30 days on and 30 days off.
Jack retired and he and Peggy travelled around USA and Europe, visiting family - especially England where their son Tim and daughter-in law, Helen live and Greece where their daughter Maggie and son-in-law Tony had a home. In their retirement, they moved to a small house on Prais Street in Stevens Point where they enjoyed the parks, city events, and the YMCA, where Jack was a lap swimmer and a well-known regular at the pool through his 95th year. He was an avid history buff, read extensively, had a substantial war history library and, as a Civil War historian, visited Civil War battlefields.
Jack aged extraordinarily well, and his sharp mind never dulled and his wit, humor and memory remained fully intact. He had an amazing knack for storytelling and vivid conversation. Folks regularly stopped over to have a cup of coffee in his office where his coffee machine, books, computer and ashtray were kept. His depth of knowledge was remarkable. He was truly a gentleman and a scholar.
Peggy, the light of his life, died after 64 years of marriage, passing in January 2018. Together, they raised nine children: Mary Ameigh (Don), John (Donatella), Robert, Maggie Diamantidis (Tony), Daniel (Laurin), Stephen, Michael (Michele), Timothy (Helen), and James (Michele). They had 30 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and 4 siblings, (Marie, Frank, James, Robert) his wife Peggy, his son Stephen, and two granddaughters.
Jack was a devout Catholic, a member of Knights of Columbus, as well as a member of the American Legion.
Jack is now reunited with his beloved Peggy. He leaves behind a family who adored him, and countless memories that will be retold for generations.
A wake will be held at Martens-Rembs Funeral Home in Junction City, Wisconsin 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025. The Mass of Christian Burial for Jack is at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Junction City on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. with visitation at church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass, all are welcome to attend. Interment will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery, Stevens Point.