Robert E. O'Leary, Janesville  (1920 - 2012)

October 8, 1920 - January 26, 2012
Robert E. O'Leary, age 91, a lifelong Janesville resident, passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital on Thursday evening, Jan. 26, 2012. With Rev. Joseph Strange officiating, he married Betty Jean Church in 1946 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Bob provided loving, caregiving support to Betty for 17 years until her passing in 1999. They were married 53 years.
Robert is survived by four children and two daughters-in-law: Jim & Cindy O'Leary of Brewster MA, Dan and Liz O'Leary of Rockford, Jan (Sharon Urbanowski) O'Leary of McFarland, and Diane Sutherland of Fort Atkinson; brother-in-law, Peter (Linda) Church of Rockton; eight grandchildren: Amy O'Leary, Jeff (Jessica) O'Leary, Staci (Wallace) Wheeler, Lisa (Mike Curley) O'Leary, Susie (Landon) Belzer, Heather (Noah Reyna) Sutherland, Jennifer (Jeremy) Kramer, and Anne (Jace Dilley) Miller; seven great-grandchildren: Amelia, Melanie, Emma, Jacob, Logan, Emmett and Carson. Loving his family deeply, Bob enjoyed the annual family reunion with his many nieces and nephews.
He was born on Oct. 8, 1920, in the Town of Rock, Route 5, Janesville, the son of John F. and Ellen (Flaherty) O'Leary who predeceased him as did four sisters: Veronica Condon, Helen Lilburn, Winifred Manthey and Charlotte Rebout; and three brothers: Vincent, Sylvester and John O'Leary. He attended St. Patrick's school and graduated Janesville High in 1939.
Bob and Betty were charter members at St. William's, and their children attended the school. After Betty's passing, he served on the parish council, liturgy and building committees and as a Eucharistic minister and Server at daily mass. His love for the farm was evident with memberships in Future Farmers of America and the Rock County 4-H. He built various furniture pieces for family members, and was an avid Notre Dame fan.
Initially working on the home farm, Bob spent 20 years as a machinist at Fairbanks Morse, followed by quality control supervision at Borg Corp. He was a member of the Janesville Board of Realtors, selling real estate and new homes.
Special family thanks are extended to Dr. Konkol and Nurse Kaylie for their medical oversight, Mercy Hospice for their compassionate care during his final months, and Mercy Hospital & Trauma Center staff for their kindnesses. We appreciate the contributions from special friends, Pat Nehls and Vicky Randall, as well as, neighbors Mick and Juanita Jensen, and Darrell Hopkins.
Funeral services with a Mass of Christian Burial will take place Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at 11 a.m. at ST. WILLIAM'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 456 N. Arch St., with Fr. John Auby officiating. Burial will take place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday morning from 9 until 10:45 a.m. at the CHURCH, where a Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, contributions in Bob's memory can be sent to St. William's School.
Whitcomb-Lynch-Albrecht Funeral Home
& Cremation Services, Janesville
21 S. Austin Rd., (608)752-2444
www.whitcomb-lynch-albrecht.com