Updated, April 20, 2024 / It was a gorgeous day at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery where Don O’Reilly was laid to rest on April 19, 2024.
Updated, April 14, 2024 / Don O’Reilly is remembered by the Naperville Honor Guard with photos by James Hoch Photograph.
O’Reilly Funeral Photo Gallery – 2024
When Jim Oftedal, Chaplain of Naperville VFW Post 3873 and Commander of the Combined Post Honor Guard, presented the three shell casings to the family on the steps of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, with blessings he quietly said they represent “duty, honor, country.”
Don O’Reilly touched many hearts during his 102 years. Don also served as flag bearer for the Honor Guard from its beginning in 2015. —PN
Updated, April 2, 2024 / Arrangements for Don O’Reilly are being handled by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8PM on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Friday, April 12, at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville.
A procession will follow to Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, 908 Jackson Ave., for military honors and a luncheon reception.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family. —PN
Updated, March 29, 2024 / “Don O’Reilly is at peace. Our comrade, friend, and role model passed away this morning around 7AM. He was 102. He has been a member of both the VFW and the Legion as well as a member of the honor Guard for a very, very long time. We will miss his “living history” Don shared with us through the years,” noted Dennis Lukavsky for the American Legion Post 43 and the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873.
The posts that follow include brief updates with photos added to the original PN cover story featured back in November 2021 when Don O’Reilly turned 100 years.
Updated, Nov. 17, 2023 / Happy 102nd birthday to Don O’Reilly!
Pictured below, Don O’Reilly again served with the Combined Post Honor Guard during Veterans Day observances at 11AM, Nov. 11.
Updated Post, Nov. 16, 2021 / Photographer Jim Hoch reports, “Had a great drive-by for Don O’Reilly’s 100th birthday today! Aurora Police Department, Naperville Police Department, Mission BBQ, and many well wishers were a part of the convoy!”
Later that evening, O’Reilly was feted with a surprise “Happy Birthday to you!” at the Judd Kendall VFW during its annual Veterans Day Dinner. More photos and video clips are available by Jim Hoch.
“Thank you for the flattering story. I am honored.” —Don O’Reilly, Email to PN, Nov. 8, 2021
Meet a World War II Veteran born in 1921
Original Post, Nov. 5, 2021 / PN’s Cover Story for November / Our first one-on-one encounter with Don O’Reilly was during the 2011 Memorial Day Parade when we were out on the beat taking photos of local Veterans. Back then the World War II Veteran who had served with the Army Air Corps (now Air Force) was lining up to walk the parade route. He was 89.
O’Reilly and his family had moved to Naperville from Milwaukee in 1958. He and his late wife, Dorothy, were parents of eight children.
“Dad lives in Aurora now,” added his daughter Kate O”Reilly who filled in details while her father was in Savannah, GA, attending an Air Force Reunion the last week in October, accompanied by his daughter, Colleen Mersman.
“He was an usher at Ss. Peter and Paul, right up until COVID,” Kate said. “There are eight children, 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, many who still live locally. …Our mother died in 2012 at 90 years old!”
We’d see Don O’Reilly at Naperville Municipal Band Concerts as well as local Veterans’ events here and there, but we didn’t know his name or much about him until May 2018 when PN columnist Barbara Blomquist wrote about a 96-year-old Veteran who attends her G.I. Yoga class.
“He was Air Force Military Police stationed in England,” Blomquist wrote. “Don O’Reilly talks about Naperville before the boom. Don is an active member of the VFW, an Honor Guard, and a member of the Naperville Radio Watch. He does not give out tickets, but he has clocked speeders and relayed their license to the police – among a few of the things that keep him busy.”
Blomquist noted Don’s most interesting stories revolve around some of his military experiences. “His fondest memory was his first airplane ride in a B17 and being in a B24 the week after VE Day.”
As his story continued via Jennifer Slown, PAO, American Legion Post 43, “One evening, his commander asked Don to guard a door for a group meeting and to ‘Let no one enter without proper authorization.’ Don performed that duty, but did not know the subject matter of the group meeting. The next day, Don was informed that he was guarding the members of the group who were reviewing the details for the next day’s attack…Invasion of Normandy, France – Operation Overlord – June 6, 1944.”
Blomquist informed readers that Don’s obvious love of country and service was shared by several of his offspring. “Two sons served in Vietnam and a grandson was in Afghanistan. One of his grandsons is a WWII reenactor who ‘has more uniforms than I do.’ It was this grandson that went with him to Norwich and London, England, for a reunion of his old Air Force unit a few years ago. And yes, he has gone on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.”
Don O’Reilly went to Marquette University in Milwaukee with financial assistance from Western Electric, explained Kate. He’s retired from a career as a mechanical engineer.
“Don still comes to yoga,” said Blomquist recently. “Usually when he’s not there, it’s because he’s serving as an honor guard at a Veteran’s funeral or at a reunion. The man stays busy.”
Photographer Jim Hoch is known for capturing the essence of events for local Veterans organizations.
“One of my objectives over the years of photographing the American Legion and VFW members is to get photos of the 90-plus-year-old Veterans,” noted Hoch. “Too that end, Don O’Reilly has been one of my favorite subjects. He is always readily willing to have his photo taken, and helps enlist other nonagenarian veterans into my quest!”
Hoch said Don always relates a story or two about his military service, and sometimes will bring an old picture or two to show.
“It’s always a learning experience as well as a history lesson for me!” Hoch continued. “Seeing him soldier on, even in freezing weather (an example of which is one of the photos I took of the Honor Guard performing a service at the Naperville City Cemetery in the winter) is a humbling and awe-inspiring event. I certainly hope I am that spry at that age!”
American Legion Department of Illinois Commander Wayne Fischer also chimed in with a tribute in celebration of Don O’Reilly’s 100th birthday on Nov. 16.
“Congratulations, Don,” wrote Fischer. “You are one very special Veteran. You are always at our Post meetings; our Post dinners and special events; and most important is that you carry the ‘Veteran Honored’ Branch Service Flag at their Honors Ceremony as part of our Combined Post Honor Guard. You will always be remembered for that special Service to a Fellow Veteran.”
Shortly before Don O’Reilly’s 99th birthday, we caught his reading Positively Naperville. He told us he’d be 100 years old in “12 months and two weeks.” He continued the countdown, month by month. And now it’s down to days.
We’ll wrap up with Commander Fischer’s words to Don O’Reilly, “Thank you for your Service and have a very special 100th.”
–PN
Last Updated, March 29, 2024, Vietnam War Veterans Day
