MICHAEL O'DONNELL

(1864 • 1936)

FORMER CITY ALDERMAN IS DEAD, AGE 72

Michael J. O'Donnell Succumbs At Home On North Sixth Street Monday Night

Michael J. O'Donnell, 72 (photo), former alderman, veteran railroad man and retired life insurance district agent, died Monday night at his home 812 North Sixth street.

He was seriously ill for two months. Mr. O'Donnell retired from active business life in 1933.

Funeral Thursday

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 8:30 a.m. from the home and at 9 o'clock from the Sacred Heart church. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. O'Donnell was born at Rio, near Portage, Wis., in 1864, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael O'Donnell Sr. When a boy his parents moved to Oshkosh where he completed school and at the age of 20 entered the employ of the Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western road, which later was absorbed by the North Western system.

His first post was a railroad clerk in the company offices at Bessemer, Mich. Then followed 30 years connection with railroading. He was located at Ashland, Antigo, Eland and other points on the North Western system. In 19??, while serving as agent at Antigo, he was named to the agency at Manitowoc. Since then he has made this city his home.

Resigned in 1916

In 1916 Mr. O'Donnell resigned his position with the North Western road to take the district agency here for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance company. He filled the district agency management in Manitowoc for 17 years, retiring in 1933.

In 1919 Mr. O'Donnell was nominated a candidate for second ward alderman and elected in April of that year to serve two years. Later he was a candidate for mayor.

Mr. O'Donnell was an ardent baseball fan and in the years when Manitowoc was a member of the Lake Shore league served on the board of directors of the local club.

Fraternally he was a member of the Manitowoc lodge of Elks, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters. He was also a member of the Holy Name society of the Sacred Heart congregation.

Married in 1891

In 1891 Mr. O'Donnell married Miss Ellen Collins. The widow survives with three daughters, Mrs. George Koebke, Misses Marion and Florence, all of this city; a brother, M.P. O'Donnel, Antigo; and a sister, Mrs. J.J. McNamara, River Forest, Ill. Manager William H. O'Donnell of the Hotel Manitowoc is a nephew.

The body was removed to the home this afternoon from the Pfeffer funeral home.

The Holy Name society will meet at the home Wednesday evening to recite the rosary.

Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. December 15, 1936 P. 2

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• buried 12-17-1936
• age 72 years
• cause: myocarditis
• buried on M.J. O'Donnell lot

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