Michael O'Neill

Michael C. O'Neill, 22, of Mansfield, died Sunday, November 21, 2004 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany from injuries suffered in Afghanistan. Born May 7, 1982, in San Rafael, California, he was the son of George and Holly Nelson O'Neill. A member of Resurrection Parish, he was a 2001 graduate of Mansfield Senior High School where he was active in all athletics, especially soccer and cross country. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Army Rangers, 75th Ranger Regiment stationed in Fort Benning, Ga. Mike lived life to the fullest, and truly embodied the Ranger creed, that reads in part, 'I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other soldier'I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some''

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his parents, George and Holly O'Neill of Mansfield; brother, Kevin O'Neill of Columbus; grandmother, Janet O'Neill of Tiburon, Cal.; uncles, John O'Neill of San Rafael, Ca., Kris Stenz of Carson City, Nev., Bruce Nelson of Coopers Landing, Alaska, Richard Rowe of San Rafael, and Mike O'Neill of Rohnert Park, Cal.; aunts, Katie Rowe of Hendersonville, N.C. and Jeannie O'Neill, of Sebastopol, Cal.; cousins, Danielle Stenz of Carson City, Victoria O'Neill of Sebastopol, Jake Nelson and Ruth Nelson, both of Coopers Landing, Stephen O'Neill, Patrick O'Neill and Kenny O'Neill, all of Rohnert Park, John Rowe and Augusta Ann Anderson, both of Asheville, N.C.; and special friends, Nick Sazdanoff, Brian White, Mike Baker, Bret Gordon and Todd Basilone, all of Mansfield, Sgt. James Campbell, Sgt. Rick Harenberg, Staff Sgt. Tim Lawless and Sgt. Jeremy Millich, all of Ft. Benning. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Jean Stenz, grandfather, John O'Neill and great-grandmother, Elvira Nelson.

Friends may call at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Sunday, November 28 from 5-7 p.m. Mass of Resurrection will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. at Resurrection Parish, officiated by Father Stanley Szybka. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Fisher House, c/o Kathy Gregory, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, CMR 402, Box 669, APO.AE 09180 or Army Ranger Memorial, Fort Benning, Georgia.