John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell, 79, died January 17, 2022
John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell was born March 25, 1942 in Butte, Montana to John and Viola O'Donnell. The second of three children, he attended Boys Central High School in Butte, graduating in 1960. He went to college at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There he met the girl he always called, "the love of his life," Kathleen Ann Collins. Jack graduated in 1964 and Kathy in 1966. They were married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 6, 1966 and settled into Helena, Montana where Jack began a teaching career.
In Helena they had two sons, Michael John in 1967 and Steven Edward in 1968. In 1969, Jack and Kathy moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Jack attended graduate school at Oregon State University and continued to teach. A daughter, Deborah Elizabeth, was born in Corvallis in 1969. In 1970, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where Jack took a job teaching chemistry at South Eugene High School. In Eugene, another daughter and son were born, Laura Christine in 1971, and Kevin Patrick in 1973.
Jack was a gracious and devoted husband to his wife Kathy and a kindhearted and generous father to his children. Jack and Kathy shared a steadfast and effortless bond and their loyalty to each other and to their family was the foundation of their lives. Together they created a home where all were welcome and treated with warmth and respect. Jack also had a clever sense of humor with which he brought abiding fun and laughter to their home.
A consummate educator, Jack was always eager to learn and pass on knowledge to his children and students. He loved exploring and learning and continued to take a variety of university courses and degrees throughout his life. He got joy out of teaching young people and helping others.
After 31 years at South Eugene High School, Jack retired from teaching in 2001. He enjoyed exercising, bird watching, studying, gardening, volunteer work, traveling, and spending time with his family. He had a great love of nature and was passionate about environmental and humanitarian causes-values he passed along to his children.
Jack was known for his kindness, generosity, humility, humor, and intelligence. He was a friend and mentor to many and shared freely of himself and his wisdom. He was dearly loved by his family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students, and he will be profoundly missed by us all.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, who died in 1997. He was also preceded in death by his parents John and Viola; his brother James, his brother-in-law Charlie; members of the Collins family; and one granddaughter, Bethany Jade. He is survived by his sister Liane; his sister-in-law Judy and her children; cousins Jim and John Shields and MaryAnn Stockton; his five children Michael, Steven, Deborah, Laura, and Kevin; members of the Collins family; and five grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held for the family. In lieu of gifts, donations in Jack's memory can be made to the Economic Justice League at South Eugene High School for underprivileged students.∼~~~Major Family Funeral Home
John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell was born March 25, 1942 in Butte, Montana to John and Viola O'Donnell. The second of three children, he attended Boys Central High School in Butte, graduating in 1960. He went to college at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There he met the girl he always called, "the love of his life," Kathleen Ann Collins. Jack graduated in 1964 and Kathy in 1966. They were married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 6, 1966 and settled into Helena, Montana where Jack began a teaching career.
In Helena they had two sons, Michael John in 1967 and Steven Edward in 1968. In 1969, Jack and Kathy moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Jack attended graduate school at Oregon State University and continued to teach. A daughter, Deborah Elizabeth, was born in Corvallis in 1969. In 1970, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where Jack took a job teaching chemistry at South Eugene High School. In Eugene, another daughter and son were born, Laura Christine in 1971, and Kevin Patrick in 1973.
Jack was a gracious and devoted husband to his wife Kathy and a kindhearted and generous father to his children. Jack and Kathy shared a steadfast and effortless bond and their loyalty to each other and to their family was the foundation of their lives. Together they created a home where all were welcome and treated with warmth and respect. Jack also had a clever sense of humor with which he brought abiding fun and laughter to their home.
A consummate educator, Jack was always eager to learn and pass on knowledge to his children and students. He loved exploring and learning and continued to take a variety of university courses and degrees throughout his life. He got joy out of teaching young people and helping others.
After 31 years at South Eugene High School, Jack retired from teaching in 2001. He enjoyed exercising, bird watching, studying, gardening, volunteer work, traveling, and spending time with his family. He had a great love of nature and was passionate about environmental and humanitarian causes-values he passed along to his children.
Jack was known for his kindness, generosity, humility, humor, and intelligence. He was a friend and mentor to many and shared freely of himself and his wisdom. He was dearly loved by his family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students, and he will be profoundly missed by us all.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, who died in 1997. He was also preceded in death by his parents John and Viola; his brother James, his brother-in-law Charlie; members of the Collins family; and one granddaughter, Bethany Jade. He is survived by his sister Liane; his sister-in-law Judy and her children; cousins Jim and John Shields and MaryAnn Stockton; his five children Michael, Steven, Deborah, Laura, and Kevin; members of the Collins family; and five grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held for the family. In lieu of gifts, donations in Jack's memory can be made to the Economic Justice League at South Eugene High School for underprivileged students.∼~~~Major Family Funeral Home
John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell, 79, died January 17, 2022
John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell was born March 25, 1942 in Butte, Montana to John and Viola O'Donnell. The second of three children, he attended Boys Central High School in Butte, graduating in 1960. He went to college at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There he met the girl he always called, "the love of his life," Kathleen Ann Collins. Jack graduated in 1964 and Kathy in 1966. They were married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 6, 1966 and settled into Helena, Montana where Jack began a teaching career.
In Helena they had two sons, Michael John in 1967 and Steven Edward in 1968. In 1969, Jack and Kathy moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Jack attended graduate school at Oregon State University and continued to teach. A daughter, Deborah Elizabeth, was born in Corvallis in 1969. In 1970, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where Jack took a job teaching chemistry at South Eugene High School. In Eugene, another daughter and son were born, Laura Christine in 1971, and Kevin Patrick in 1973.
Jack was a gracious and devoted husband to his wife Kathy and a kindhearted and generous father to his children. Jack and Kathy shared a steadfast and effortless bond and their loyalty to each other and to their family was the foundation of their lives. Together they created a home where all were welcome and treated with warmth and respect. Jack also had a clever sense of humor with which he brought abiding fun and laughter to their home.
A consummate educator, Jack was always eager to learn and pass on knowledge to his children and students. He loved exploring and learning and continued to take a variety of university courses and degrees throughout his life. He got joy out of teaching young people and helping others.
After 31 years at South Eugene High School, Jack retired from teaching in 2001. He enjoyed exercising, bird watching, studying, gardening, volunteer work, traveling, and spending time with his family. He had a great love of nature and was passionate about environmental and humanitarian causes-values he passed along to his children.
Jack was known for his kindness, generosity, humility, humor, and intelligence. He was a friend and mentor to many and shared freely of himself and his wisdom. He was dearly loved by his family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students, and he will be profoundly missed by us all.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, who died in 1997. He was also preceded in death by his parents John and Viola; his brother James, his brother-in-law Charlie; members of the Collins family; and one granddaughter, Bethany Jade. He is survived by his sister Liane; his sister-in-law Judy and her children; cousins Jim and John Shields and MaryAnn Stockton; his five children Michael, Steven, Deborah, Laura, and Kevin; members of the Collins family; and five grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held for the family. In lieu of gifts, donations in Jack's memory can be made to the Economic Justice League at South Eugene High School for underprivileged students.∼~~~Major Family Funeral Home
John Louis "Jack" O'Donnell was born March 25, 1942 in Butte, Montana to John and Viola O'Donnell. The second of three children, he attended Boys Central High School in Butte, graduating in 1960. He went to college at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. There he met the girl he always called, "the love of his life," Kathleen Ann Collins. Jack graduated in 1964 and Kathy in 1966. They were married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on August 6, 1966 and settled into Helena, Montana where Jack began a teaching career.
In Helena they had two sons, Michael John in 1967 and Steven Edward in 1968. In 1969, Jack and Kathy moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Jack attended graduate school at Oregon State University and continued to teach. A daughter, Deborah Elizabeth, was born in Corvallis in 1969. In 1970, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where Jack took a job teaching chemistry at South Eugene High School. In Eugene, another daughter and son were born, Laura Christine in 1971, and Kevin Patrick in 1973.
Jack was a gracious and devoted husband to his wife Kathy and a kindhearted and generous father to his children. Jack and Kathy shared a steadfast and effortless bond and their loyalty to each other and to their family was the foundation of their lives. Together they created a home where all were welcome and treated with warmth and respect. Jack also had a clever sense of humor with which he brought abiding fun and laughter to their home.
A consummate educator, Jack was always eager to learn and pass on knowledge to his children and students. He loved exploring and learning and continued to take a variety of university courses and degrees throughout his life. He got joy out of teaching young people and helping others.
After 31 years at South Eugene High School, Jack retired from teaching in 2001. He enjoyed exercising, bird watching, studying, gardening, volunteer work, traveling, and spending time with his family. He had a great love of nature and was passionate about environmental and humanitarian causes-values he passed along to his children.
Jack was known for his kindness, generosity, humility, humor, and intelligence. He was a friend and mentor to many and shared freely of himself and his wisdom. He was dearly loved by his family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and students, and he will be profoundly missed by us all.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, who died in 1997. He was also preceded in death by his parents John and Viola; his brother James, his brother-in-law Charlie; members of the Collins family; and one granddaughter, Bethany Jade. He is survived by his sister Liane; his sister-in-law Judy and her children; cousins Jim and John Shields and MaryAnn Stockton; his five children Michael, Steven, Deborah, Laura, and Kevin; members of the Collins family; and five grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held for the family. In lieu of gifts, donations in Jack's memory can be made to the Economic Justice League at South Eugene High School for underprivileged students.∼~~~Major Family Funeral Home
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