Steven Patrick ONeill
February 21, 1961 ~ March 28, 2006
ONeill, Steven Patrick, 45, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, as the result of an airplane crash in Southern California. He was Cessna Caravans regional sales manager for the Western United States and Canada. Steve was born February 21, 1961 in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from School of the Magdalen, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, and in 1983, received a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Kansas where he was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. Steve was employed as a petroleum engineer in Texas and Wichita for seventeen years, but his love of flying led him to change careers. In 2000, he joined Cessna Aircraft and was promoted to regional sales manager in 2002. Steve is survived by his wife, Rhonda; four daughters, Margaret Gianna “Maggie”, Elaine, Elizabeth, and Erin; two stepdaughters, Megan and Kathryn Reichenberger; stepson, Jordan Reichenberger, all of the home. He is also survived by his parents, John and Dorothy ONeill of Wichita; two sisters, Patti MacPherson and her husband, Will, and Sharon ONeill and her husband, Bill McKeighan, all of Wichita; six brothers, John and wife, Gretchen, of Andover, Thomas of Overland Park, Kevin and wife, Lisa, of Overland Park, Paul of Wichita, Mark of Olympia, WA, and Brenden and wife, Heather, of Houston, TX; twenty-one nieces and nephews. A rosary will be held, 7:00 P.M., Sunday, April 9, 2006, and the funeral mass will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, April 10, 2006, both at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Wichita. The burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials established with Steven P. ONeill Childrens Education Fund, c/o Bank of America, 7310 W. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67205 and Stepstone, c/o Sisters of St. Joseph “Dear Neighbors Ministries”, 1329 Bluffview, Wichita, KS 67218. Steve was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother. We were so blessed to have him in our lives, and he will be forever missed by all. Downing Lahey Mortuary West.
Rosary, 7:00 P.M., Sunday, April 9, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Our prayers are with you and your family. Mike & Sylvia Guapo, (Magdalen)
Dear Rhonda and family, Just wanted to let you know that my thoughts are with you during this time of sorrow. You all have been through a lot and I know you will survive this with God’s help. I enjoy seeing Jordan in the high school halls now and then. It has been a long time since I first started working with him at Colwich. He has come a long way. My love to you all,
Rhonda, We are so saddened to hear of the terrible tragedy of Steven’s accident. We love you and our prayer’s are with you. Leon and Julie Rausch
As a KMC classmate of Steve’s, he shared one of my passions…FLYING. He loved to talk about flying and I recall the day when he wanted to change his career from geology to aviation. We will miss his great attitude and love he had for life and family. My prayers go out to Steve’s family.
Rhonda I didn’t know Steve very well but what I did know of him he seemed like a very loving and wonderful husband to you and a loving father to your children. My thoughts and prayers are with you and have been since I found out about this tragedy. I am here for you always.
Steve was a high school classmate of mine at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Class of ’79. We had a lot of laughs together. I don’t recall ever seeing Steve in a bad mood. He had an infectious personality. At one of our class reunions I remember my wife commenting about how fun he was to visit with. I know Steve was a great father. His wonderful daughters are a testiment to that fact. I have had the privilege of getting to know them over the years when they were in our office. Steve, we will all miss your fun loving spirit. May God bless you and all of your family.
As I read the many tributes to Steve, memories flow like we were all together just yesterday. There was a group of us who grew up since the early days at Magdalen and remained great friends since, Steve was always in the middle. He was the one who was invariably in the middle of all of our childhood mischief. There wasn’t a better ring leader! As many have already stated, we will miss you. Godspeed to the ‘Pearly Gates’ and our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Bobbt & Clare Vickers Fairway, Kansas
Steve was a friend from the 3rd grade. He always had a smile on his face and a plan working in his mind. His family home located so close to school was our gathering spot as we grew through adolescence to young adults. Steve was a founding member of the B.R.E.W. His family will be in our thoughts and prayers. As we will not be able to attend the services, we will miss seeing several of you who also grew up with Steve. May God Bless – Chris Colliatie and Family
I met Steve 40 years ago, standing in alphabetical order, in Sister Mary Joseph’s Magdalen kindergaten class. I didn’t understand the necessity of always standing in alphabetical order…but I sure liked that O’Neill kid standing next to me. It’s a good thing I did, because we stood side-by-side in alphabetical order all the way through Kapaun. Standing in line next to Steve became so ingrained, that when I would see him at KU, I had to restrain myself from lining up alphabetically. My children have been informed that ‘Steve O’Neill was a great man’, and 100 years from now, when their children hear the name ‘Steve O’Neill’, I know exactly what they will say; Steve O’Neill, was a very great man. May God Bless the O’Neill’s and Godspeed, Stevie.
To the O’Niell Family-I only met Steve one time but I’ll always remember that day. It was the 30th of Dec. of 2005 and I was out on West 21st on one last bike ride for the year and Steve and I met and ended up riding to Cheney Lake together. Before we parted ways on the return trip I knew about his family(he was very proud of)what he did for a living and was invited to a New Years get together! He asked about my family and seemed genuinely interested to hear what I had to say. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and prayers as you endure this most difficult of times.
May our Father in heaven comfort you all -as you proceed on your own Via Dolorosa/Way of the Cross mirroring our Lord’s Passion. The only comfort is knowing that Steve is at our destination-way too soon in our eyes, but nonetheless, in communion with our Lord in Heaven- he is up there smiling that great smile of his and holding hands with our Maker, Mother, Brother – please know we are praying for all of you!
To Erin and her family, from the Reckers crew: Know that our hearts and thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Rhonda & Family, Our deepest sympathy, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your children.