Joseph O'Hara

---- — November 10, 2011, began our fond farewell to Joe, a good and faithful servant of what is treasured in life. The early morning hour was dark and peaceful, and the watch was lovingly kept at Grand Traverse Pavilions where he lived for three months. The night granted the gift of surcease from the trials of several years, delivering our husband and father to the loving arms of his Creator to celebrate for Eternity the spirit that he was.Slainte! You left many loves behind: Your wife, Nancy; your children, Michael (Cathy), Timothy (Victoria Joyce), Corrine (Joel Schwartz), Magdalene, Julieanne (David) Schneider; your adopted family: Otto (Kristine) Molmen, Karen (Jon) Pack, Melinda (Chris) Goodman, Lisa (Miles Barnes) Molmen, Ruth Ann (Jim) Jorgensen; 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.Slainte! Here's to pride in your heritage. Your Irish version of kindness is perfectly described by the poet, Brendan Behan: "...I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer." That was you, Joe, and we will never forget.Slainte! Blessings on the Bay, where you found joy and freedom in the wind. Its beauty, peace and excitement for living you exemplified every day with a soft word, a bit of encouragement, sometimes an idea or correction, often a laugh, but always with a hug.Slainte! A toast to your beloved helicopters, the life-saving machines you felt blessed to serve in their infancy, when flying them was done only to rescue the desperate. We will always remember you when we see those birds with double rotors.Slainte! To the Navy, whose honor and discipline marked your life to the end. You never wasted a resource nor spared an effort to do the right thing. It's amazing that after 65 years, you still took Navy showers.Slainte! Gratitude from those you loved and who loved you. Life will always be better for your having lived it with us. We say Thank You God, Amen and Amen.As Joe exemplified gratitude and concern for those who are without, our family asks that if anyone wishes to express remembrance of him, gifts may be sent to the Detroit Rescue Mission, 150 Stimson, Detroit, MI 48201 or by logging on to www.drmm.org.Please share your memory of Joe by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.