“JR” Ivan O’Daniell, Jr., son of the late Ivan Delmar O’Daniell, Sr. and Beatrice Klipstein O’Daniell, was born on June 17, 1935, in Sidney Iowa and departed this life on December 29, 2015 at his residence in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 80.
Mr. O’Daniell’s initial career in the newspaper industry began as a young boy under the tutelage of his father. Eventually he purchased and served as Editor for a number of newspapers such as the Cabool Enterprise in Cabool, Missouri, the Fairbury Times in Fairbury, Nebraska, the Grants Beacon in Grants, New Mexico and a newspaper in Culbert, Georgia. Mr. O’Daniell ended this career when he sold the Bloomfield Vindicator after serving as Editor from 1965 through 1976. While Editor of the Bloomfield Vindicator, he bought the first copy of the Bloomfield Stars and Stripes Newspaper. He then donated it to the Stoddard County Historical Society. Copies of that newspaper were used for the Museum Fundraiser.
JR’s second career in law enforcement was unknowingly sparked as a sixteen-year-old when he served as an accident scene photographer for the New Mexico Highway Patrol. Following the sale of the Vindicator, JR returned to this interest working as a dispatcher and then a Deputy for the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office. He later evolved as a Chief Investigator for the Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office until his retirement. He was the first Commander of the Stoddard County Major Case Squad. JR was committed to serving his community and helping others through his profession often sacrificing his own time and comfort.
JR touched many lives helping others in the area to see a better life. He was a proud and loving father and the great friend that many will ever know. He was known by all that loved him for his compassionate heart. His love for his family, including his furry family, surpassed all others. JR also enjoyed hunting, fishing and remodeling his home.
On August 17, 1980, he was united in marriage to Beverly Bowling in Bloomfield. Mrs. O’Daniell survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Butch O’Daniell and his wife Linda of Bloomfield, Missouri; by four daughters, June Lawrence and her husband Bud of Dexter, Missouri, Sherry O’Daniell-Moore and her husband Rob of Wilmington, North Carolina, Kelly Flowers and her husband Kevin of Dexter, Missouri and Kristina Twaddell and her husband Clint of Bloomfield, Missouri; by two step-sons, Keith Lang and his wife Donna of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Mark Lang and his wife Sherry of Dexter, Missouri; by one step-daughter, Traci Childers and her husband Steven of Broadway, North Carolina; by seventeen grandchildren, Bridgett Kielhofner, Hunter Lawrence, Erin Moore, Aleshia Flowers, Delaney Flowers, Joe Burch, Clint Burch, Elisha Thomason, Michael Schafer, Elizabeth Twaddell, Kasity Twaddell, Katelyn Lang, Sarah Lang, Brittany Lang, Leah Childers, Amber Childers and Steven Childers; twelve great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Franklin O’Daniell and John Allen O’Daniell and by one sister, Nan Dawson.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Elijah Allen officiating. Interment will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 9370 Olive Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63132-3253 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908.
