Robert "Mike" O'Hara

Robert Michael O’Hara, age 68, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2010 in Topeka, Kansas, surrounded by his family. He was born October, 21, 1941, in Parsons, Kansas to James Patrick and Mary O’Connor O’Hara. He grew up in Parsons and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School. He served as an MP in the U.S. Army from 1961-1962. He married Catherine Smith on April 27, 1968, in St. Paul, Kansas. The couple lived in Junction City, St. Marys, and later in Topeka, sharing time in Washington, D. C. Mike worked for the Kansas Department of Labor for 35 years and retired in 2000. He was a member of St. Joseph/Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Topeka and served as a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. His devotions were to his family, his Catholic faith and his Irish heritage. He enjoyed serving as the honorary “St. Patrick” on the family float at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Topeka and hosted large pool parties with extended family and friends each 4th of July. He was preceded in death by his brothers James P. and John (Jack) O’Hara and sister Kathleen O’Hara. Mike is survived by his wife, Cathy; his sons Michael (Amy) O’Hara, Smithville, Missouri and Ryan (Leslie) O’Hara, Kansas City, Kansas; and his daughters, Erin (Tim) Newport, Topeka, Kansas and Katie Scarlett O’Hara (Jack) Calcutt, Bridgeport, Connecticut; and grandchildren Peter, Mary Margaret, Bernadette, Bridget, Henry and Joseph Newport and Molly, Brady and Casey O’Hara. He also is survived by three brothers, E.B. O’Hara, Denver, Colorado, W.J. (Joe) and Charles O’Hara of Topeka; and four sisters, Margaret Grillot and Jeanne Smith, St. Paul, Elaine Jefferson, Parsons, Betty Ann Cunningham, Chanute. Visitation for Mike in Topeka will be held at St. Joseph Church on Thursday, February 11th, from 4 to 7 p.m. with a rosary at 5:30 p.m. Visitation in St. Paul, Kansas, will be at St. Francis Hieronymo Church on Friday, February 12th, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Hieronymo Church with interment at St. Francis Parish Cemetery in St. Paul. Memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Catholic Charities and Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul and sent in care of the funeral homes. Online condolences may be sent to the Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home in Topeka at www.kevinbrennanfamily.com or Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons at www.wallfuneralservices.com

Robert "Mike" O'Hara

October 21, 1941 - February 11, 2010