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| James R. O Reilly, Age 69 |
| Funeral Time: |
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM |
| Funeral Location: |
A Celebration of Jim's Life will be at their home on Mission Lake |
| Burial Location: |
Mission Cemetery, Merrifield, MN |
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JAMES R. O’REILLY, 69
Merrifield, MN
March 1, 1942 ~ June 30, 2011
James R. O’Reilly, age 69, died Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
A Celebration of Jim’s life will be Wednesday, July 6, 2011 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM at their home on Mission Lake. Burial will be in Mission Cemetery, Merrifield, MN. Funeral arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.
Jim was born March 1, 1942 in Brainerd, MN to Raymond and Juanita (Jewell) O’Reilly. Jim graduated from Brainerd High School in 1960. He attended Brainerd Junior College. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and was commissioned as Ensign. He was sent to Pensacola, FL in 1962 and earned his wings as a naval aviator. Jim flew P-2’s as part of patrol unit VP-1 Squadron and flew missions in the Vietnam War. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. On February 15, 1964, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Hall in New Iberia, LA. In 1967 Jim left the Navy for a pilot position at Northwest Airlines, where he served until retirement in 1998. Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He especially loved hunting, golfing, four-wheeling, watching car races and traveling. He wintered in Arizona and spent the summers at his home on Mission Lake.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie O’Reilly of Merrifield, MN; son and daughters, Kristie (Kevin) Cencer of Clear Lake, MN; Craig (Jody) O’Reilly of Pine River, MN; Dawn (Todd) Drayna of Clear Lake, MN; six grandchildren, Benjamin, Nicholas and Reilly Cencer; Lainey O’Reilly; and Kaelyn and Kennedy Drayna; brothers and sister, Mike (Bev) O’Reilly of Kimball, MN; Jerry (Cheryl) O’Reilly of Brainerd, MN; Bob (Jan) O’Reilly of Brainerd, MN; Penny (Jeff) Sawdy of Brooklyn Park, MN; John (Jeri Lee) O’Reilly of Brainerd, MN; sister-in-laws, Sheryl (Tom) Neutz; Viki O’Reilly and Diane O’Reilly and one brother-in-law, Dave Karlson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Tim and Tom O’Reilly and one sister, Jackie Karlson.
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