Daniel Thomas O' Neill

1951-2019

Daniel was born in, and grew up in, Kansas City, Missouri. He served as a Marine in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 and returned home after a combat injury. After the war, he relocated to southern Oregon and worked for the U.S. Forest Service until retirement. Daniel was devoted to the well-being of children and volunteered several years for the AmeriCorps children’s literacy program, and as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) in Medford, Oregon. He returned to the Kansas City area in 2005, to help care for an ailing parent. He continued to volunteer in various Veteran’s programs, and worked as a prayer associate for the Silent Unity prayer line. Wherever life brought him, Daniel loved being outdoors, and was committed to the protection of this country’s wilderness areas.

Daniel is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas O’Neill and Marian Fitzpatrick O’Neill, two brothers, Patrick and Timothy O’Neill, a grandchild Basil, and his fellow Marines who lost their lives in Vietnam, but never left his heart. Daniel is survived by his wife Veronica, brothers Michael O’Neill and Terry O’Neill, sister Mary O’Neill, his children Timothy O’Neill, Cara Griffith-O’Neill Bailey, Galen O’Neill, and his shared children, Heidi Maupin and Quentin Grider. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ailey, Sophia, Jack, Colin, Brendan, Robert Jr., Gavin, Micah, Claire, Mason and Forge. And he is survived by, and will be greatly missed by, nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, friends and fellow veterans.

Also greatly loved by Daniel are the dogs that graced his life. Donations can be made to Wayside Waifs, in Kansas City or to any animal rescue organization of choice. Daniel would encourage each of us to give of ourselves as well, and volunteer for those organizations that touch our hearts.