James Daniel O'Leary

James Daniel was born to Leo Daniel and Frances Joyce (Valle) O’Leary on September 11, 1949. He was the third of nine children. The family lived in Sioux City for a short time before moving to Virginia, where they lived until the passing of Jim’s mother in 1964. The O’Leary family moved back to Sioux City where Jim attended Woodrow Wilson school.

Jim also attended Automotive Repair classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa.

He lived with his brother, Chuck, and worked in Sioux City until 2012 when he was admitted into the Akron Care Center in Akron, Iowa. The Akron Care staff became his ‘second family’. They cared for Jim around the clock and found pleasure in teasing Jim who would return the teasing in spades. He was described as ‘one of a kind’ and a ‘favorite’.

Jim enjoyed listening to rock music with Creedence Clearwater Revival being one of his favorite bands. He also enjoyed watching emergency/ambulance shows on TV.

To his family he brought a wonderful sense of humor that radiated out through his playful back and forth ribbing with his siblings, particularly his brothers. He was playfully called the ‘President’ who was always on the verge, according to his brothers, of being ‘thrown out of office’. His brothers would always forewarn him that he would be ‘out’ as the ‘President.’

While it was said that Jim was a person with ‘Special Needs’ it can also be said, by his family, that Jim was ‘Special’ in meeting the ‘Needs’ of those around him in his own unique way. He was a ‘one of a kind’ brother who gave as much as he received.

Jim is survived by his siblings Terrance O’Leary, Thomas (Shirley) O’Leary, Stephen (Patricia) O’Leary, nieces Molly Hill and Erin (Michael) Olson and first cousins Don Skelton and Denny (Gin) Skelton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Frances O’Leary, his sisters Sr. Kathleen O’Leary, FEHJ, Lynn O’Leary and Theresa Hill as well as his brother, Charles O’Leary.

In our hearts and minds he will always be ‘The President’ deserving of all of our love, honor and support. He who will be dearly missed.