Mell O'Donnell
November 12, 1922 ~ August 20, 2009
Mell N. O'Donnell, 86, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, August 20, 2009, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 24, 2009, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Msgr. Karl Glovik and the Rev. Christopher Podjhasky. Friends may call from 2 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 4 pm. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his wife, Pauline; six sons, Dan (Pat), Pat (Kathleen), Mell (Lori), Tom (Cheryl), Tim, and Mike O'Donnell; three daughters, Karen (Les) Swindler, Angie (Tim) Casey, and Coleen (Tom) Stevenson, all of the Cedar Rapids area; nineteen grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren. Mell was born November 12, 1922, in Williamsburg, Iowa, the son of Hugh and Frances (Morrin) O'Donnell. While serving in the US Air Force, Mell married Pauline Moore on February 20, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a District Manager for REA Express for 30 years and was a Realtor in the Cedar Rapids area for 30 years, where he was a member of the Million Dollar Club. As a member of Immaculate Conception, he attended daily mass and enjoyed playing in the parish softball leagues. Mell was a great family man who spent a lot of time playing card games, coaching and attending sporting events for family, and following Notre Dame sports. He also liked to watch Cardinals baseball and John Wayne movies. He took great pride in providing for his family and will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers; one sister; and a granddaughter, Claire. A memorial fund has been established.
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Sorry to hear about your loss. Will be in our prayers.
My sympathy to you all. I always enjoyed seeing Mell playing church league ball with you O’Donnell boys. It was obvious that he loved playing ball and also spending time with his kids — and the feeling seemed to be mutual. I hope your many good memories bring you comfort.
May the memories you have help deep within your heart the help soothe your spirit at this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers
We are friends of Pat & Dan and Mel & Lori. Wanted to send our condolences to the family. Jim & Jan Armstrong
Mel helped us to find our first, and only, home. He was so patient and kind and willing to drive us around at all hours, nights and weekends when I bet he would have rather been at home with his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family at this difficult time. God bless you all.
Our sympathy to the family. We throughly enjoyed Mell and having him as a friend. You could tell by his easy going style he loved life and being with his family. We were lucky to know him. Peace be with you all.
I’m a friend of Ryan & Leah. Wanted to send my heartfelt sympathy to the entire family!
I hope your many great memories get you through this difficult time. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
While I did not know Mr. O’Donnell I do know several of his children and I’d like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to them, as well as the rest of the family.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. There are so many that are blessed to have known Mel. He was a wonderful coach, among his many endeavors. He will always be a great example to me of how to live life as a Christian man.
On behalf of my wife Mary, my parents and all my siblings, we wish you the deepest sympathy.
God bless,
Matt
My deepest sympathy to the entire O’Donnell family. Mr. O’Donnell was a wonderful, loving person and touched so many lives. He will be missed by countless.
I had the privilege of working with Mell at Zachar’s – a long time ago. He was always one of my favorite realtors, friendly and gracious to everyone and always had a smile or a kind word. Just wanted to express my sympathy to your family. Praying for God’s blessing on all of you during this difficult transition period.
Ellie (Osborn) Vetter
Fort Myers, FL
LORI AND MELL, SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
Mike and family,
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
I remember Mel as the Father of the O’Donnell kids that lived next door to us in the old neighborhood — 4th Avenue SE.
The O’Donnell boys — and Angie — provided spirited and competitive sports fun in our neighborhood from whiffle ball, football, basketball to badminton.
Mel used to join my Father playing badminton with all the local kids in the O’Donnell’s backyard.
I will always remember Mel stretching out his tall frame striving to scoop up the badminton birdie before it would hit the ground. What a wing span!
These were fun times and moments of simple pleasures before world events and growing up changed us forever.
I am very sorry to hear of your father’s passing. I wish I could have been there to celebrate his life with you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tom Stark
My mother, Dorothy O’Donnell, and my family are very sorry for your loss. I have many memories of rolling down the hill beside Grandma’s house with my O’Donnell cousins and then getting yelled at by one of the O’Donnell brothers, be it Uncle Mell or Uncle Mark. I also remember meeting Uncle Mell years later at the Amanas for great food. He was always such a big man, in stature, voice, and deed. He will be missed.
Mell was my junior high basketball coach from 1988-89. He was a positive influence beyond basketball, and I appreciate everything that he did for me. I offer my condolences to Mell’s family.
My thoughts and sympathies to the O’Donnell family in their time of loss. A Regis classmate of Dan.
To the O’Donnell family,
I wanted to extend my deepest condolences for your loss. I enjoyed seeing Mell come to the maintenance exercise program at St. Luke’s Hospital. It was always great fun to talk about his family or Notre Dame. I admirred Mell’s determination and love for family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you cope with your loss. Lisa Kilburg
I’m sorry to read of your loss. I never had the chance to get to know many of the O’Donnell’s from the Williamsburg area, only through many years of research. My sympathy to the entire family.