Doris M. O'Neill

Doris M. O’Neill, 100, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on May 25, 2025, at home surrounded by her family.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 30th, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., with a wake service at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be held Saturday after 9:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Dennis Quint officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on Leonard Funeral Home's Facebook page.

Doris was born on June 29th, 1924, in Glen Haven, WI., the daughter of Bernard and Cecelia (Walz) Ertel. She attended Bayless Business School in Dubuque, where she met the love of her life, Leo O’Neill. Leo and Doris were married on June 1st, 1946, in Glen Haven. Doris was mostly a homemaker but had also worked at Xavier Hospital and Stonehill Care Center.

Doris belonged to St. Patrick’s Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters, a Girl Scout Leader at St. Patrick’s, Operation Friendship, tutored students at Comiskey Park, and was a part of the Broadway Neighborhood Association. She enjoyed feeding birds, gardening, camping, vacations, and road trips. Her caramel apples were legendary that she passed out on Trick or Treat to the neighborhood kids. Mom and dad helped start the Wednesday night meal at St. Pat’s.

She enjoyed being a grandmother and attending all the kids activities. For the past 30 years she has had a very special relationship with the Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell. Their friendship grew after meeting in Branson. Daniel sang her favorite song to her just last November after he told the audience she was 100 years old and still traveled to Branson with her kids to see him.

Doris is survived by her children Rick O’Neill of Dubuque, Iowa, Mary Kershner of Denver, Colorado, Peggy Howard of Dubuque, Iowa, Terry “Darby” (Nancy) O’Neill of Aurora, Colorado, Jane (Dave) Vilbrandt of Janeville, Wisconsin, Kevin (Kathy) O’Neill of Kirkland, Washington, and a son-in-law John Meyer of Dubuque, Iowa.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Heather (Bobby) Jungblut, Katie (Eric) Mottet, Wendy (Wes Peterson) McKernan, Lisa (Nick) Donarski, Scott (Tessa) Howard, Patrick Meyer, Jennifer Meyer, Sara Meyer, Scott (Ashley) Vilbrandt, Mark (Angela) Vilbrandt, Kevin (Carla) Vilbrandt, Brady (Brittney) O’Neill, Brian (Sammy) O’Neill, Megan Empson, Molly (Ben) Parker, Katie (Cory) Heinzerling, Jamie (Connor) Smith, Rachel (Matt) Nilsson, Corey (Celia) O’Neill; 34 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; her sister Phyllis Ertz; sister-in-law Ruth Ertel.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband Leo, daughter Eileen Meyer, sons-in-law Steve Howard and Bryan Kershner, grandson-in-law Rob McKernan, sister Verna Fralick, brother Patrick Ertel, sisters-in-law Elaine O’Neill and Carilee Salwolke and brothers-in-law Floyd Fralick, Albert Ertz, Bill O’Neill, Bob O’Neill and Jim O’Neill.

In lieu of flowers, the family will be donating money to her favorite charities.

The family would like to thank their sister Mary for using her nursing skills to help care for mom. They especially want to thank their brother Rick for being so devoted to mom and treating her with so much love and tenderness his whole life. He and mom were “Special Roommates”! They also would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and Dr. Cao for their care.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.