Geraldine J. O’Neil

Geraldine J. O’Neil passed away on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. She was 84 years old.

Honey was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on Feb. 8, 1939, to Peter and Martha (Kelln) Schilling.

As a young girl, Honey spent every free minute swimming and diving. Even in her 50s she was noticed at a public pool and asked to join a competitive dive team.

Honey was united in marriage to James “Jim” O’Neil on June 20, 1959.

Jim preceded her in death two years earlier on the same date of Sept. 18.

Honey and Jim lived on a hobby farm with their three daughters in the Town of Saukville, Wis., where the neighborhood was more like family.

A job transfer prompted them to relocate to the Dallas, Texas, area and eventually led them to retire at Holly Lake Ranch in East Texas.

Honey worked for several different companies through the years, most notably Kohl’s Food Stores, where she made lifelong friends.

As an avid golfer, Honey won a golf cart with a hole-in-one, and even after losing sight in one eye she shot another hole-in-one.

In addition, she enjoyed bowling, playing mahjong and bunco and working in her back yard.

Honey is survived by her daughters Kathleen (Jeffrey) Conradt of Oostburg, Wis., Kelly O’Neil and Jennifer (Thomas) Monahan of Port Washington, Wis., 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She is further survived by siblings Jerry (Betty) Schilling, Arlon (Mary) Schilling, Joann Lutz and Diana Hildebrandt, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to her husband Jim, Honey was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Vernon, Elmo and Wallace Schilling and her sister Janet White.

A special thank you to her friends and neighbors at Holly Lake Ranch. You made it possible for her to stay in her beloved Texas!

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Holy Trinity Parish, 521 Congress St., Newburg, Wis. Visitation will be at the church from 3 p.m. Friday until the service.

A celebration of life will follow the Mass on Friday at the Landt-Thiel American Legion Post, 601 W. Dekora St. (Highway 33) in Saukville, Wis.    

Interment in the parish cemetery will be at 10 a.m. Saturday.