Juanita M. O'Neil

Juanita Marie O’Neil, 59, of Beattie, KS, passed away December 27, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, KS.

She was born on September 24, 1964, in Circleville, OH, to LeRoy and Erma (Wilburn) Slack. In 1983, she graduated from Nemaha Valley High School in Seneca, KS.

Juanita met Dan O’Neil on Halloween in 1984, and they married February 9, 1985 in Seneca.  It may not have been love at first sight but definitely by the second date.

She worked for Twin Valley Developmental Services for 30 plus years, serving many roles, but the most recent as the Medical Coordinator in Beattie. She was a Special Olympics coach for multiple years and cared deeply for the clients.

Juanita was an active member of the Methodist Church in Beattie and served as president of the United Methodist Women for several years. She enjoyed life, and she would spend weekends in the summer on the four-wheeler with Dan. She loved clothes, and you'd know if she'd been in a room by her lingering scent.

Playing cards, especially Euchre, Pitch, Canasta, and Phase 10, was one of her favorite pastimes. She enjoyed sewing and crafting, and some years she made Christmas stockings for the O’Neil Christmas, which would add up to forty plus stockings.

Juanita loved to listen to music and went dancing nearly every weekend. She always enjoyed Branson and routinely would get picked from the crowd to come up on stage. She never knew a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. She loved fiercely, and her family was extremely important to her, especially the grandchildren. Juanita would light up a room with her infectious smile and friendly demeanor.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Dan; children, Shannon (Cody) Swartz, Wichita, Danielle (Jacob) Seematter, Waukee, IA, and Derek (Holly) O’Neil, Seneca; and siblings, Leroy Slack, Beattie, Tina (Bob) Kirkland, Old Fort, NC, and Janice (Ed) Helphinstine, Vanceburg, KY; and seven grandchildren.

Just as Dan and Juanita have done everything together for the last 39 years, it is their wish to be buried together at a later date.

The family wants to thank the staff at Good Shepherd Hospice and Healthcare for taking such good care of Juanita.  In lieu of flowers, they would like memorial contributions to be made to Good Shepherd Hospice and Healthcare. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary.