Dr. William "Bill" F. O'Neill
Dr. William Francis O’Neill, 86, of Menomonie, WI, passed away on January 12, 2024, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Bill was born on February 6, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the eldest of five boys. He attended Rosevelt High School until the age of 16 when he started college at the University of Chicago. He finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota with a major in History and a minor in Physics. Bill achieved a masters in English and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Irish Literature at the University of Minnesota. He married Jeanette Mann November 25, 1967.
Bill worked for Honeywell and General Electric before becoming an English professor at the University of Wisconsin - Stout until his retirement in 2003. He was a voracious reader, and loved theater, music, and traveling. Bill was a great storyteller and writer, authoring two novels, a collection of essays, and many political articles. Bill was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, acting in several community theater productions, and instrumental in establishing the Chippewa Valley Learning in Retirement organization. Bill was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His wit and humor will be immortalized in the memories of all who knew him.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Mary and William O’Neill, and brothers Robert and Brian.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeanette (Jan), son Colin and his wife Amber, daughter Siobhan and her husband Jason, brothers John and Alan, and grandchildren Rachel, Tenley, Fletcher, and Nolan.
A memorial will be held at Nonic Brewery in Menomonie on Friday January 19, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mabel Tainter Theater and Menomonie Theater Guild