Kenneth O'Hara
Kenneth E. O’Hara, 82, of Waukon died Friday, January 10, 2020 at his home. Memorial services will be held Thursday, January 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial of ashes will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 15 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service.
Kenneth Edward O’Hara was born December 19, 1937 in the Wexford area of rural Lansing. His parents were Joseph Leo and Catherine Loretta (Ryan) O’Hara. He was baptized at Immaculate Conception Wexford Catholic Church and confirmed at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church. His parents lived on farms they rented so Kenny attended a variety of rural Allamakee County schools in the Wexford, Lycurgus and Frankville areas as his family moved from place to place. Kenny farmed with his brother, Robert, until his parents’ health failed and he moved to Waukon in 1968.
May 3, 1969, he married Shirley Ann Bresnahan at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Since being in Waukon, Kenny did cement work at construction sites and worked at Village Farm & Home and Don Brown’s Phillips 66 Service Station. He was a service man for Empire Gas for 15 years and drove a school bus for the Allamakee Community School District for several years. More recently, he was a meat cutter at Jets Meats in Waukon and worked at Agriprocessors, Inc. in Postville before retiring in 2003. For many years he also ran a shoe repair business out of his home.
Kenny was very community minded and an avid sports fan. He and Shirley not only followed their sons and grandchildren in sports but were regular attendees at ball games and long-time members of the booster club. A real highlight for Kenny happened on his last birthday when he was presented with an honorary “W” by the Allamakee Community School District in recognition of his 26 years of service to the wrestling club. Other favorite pastimes included fishing, taking trips to Branson, MO and woodworking, where he used his talents to make small barns and other items which he often donated to various fundraisers.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Waukon; his sons, Daniel (Julie Breuer) O’Hara of Hudson, WI and Michael (Kari Campbell) O’Hara of Decorah; seven grandchildren: Mason, Kylie, Kade, Kyra, Henry, Katharine and Hannah; and numerous generations of nephews, nieces and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Frances Schwartz, Dorothy Zeimet, Donald O’Hara, Robert O’Hara, James O’Hara, Kathryn Scudella and John O’Hara.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
