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Terry O'Hearn

May 28, 1937 - April 1, 2023
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
5:00 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Rosary

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
7:30 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Mass of Christian Burial

Wednesday, April 5, 2023
11:00 AM EDT
Holy Spirit Church
2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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With a big heart, infectious smile, and unwavering faith, Terry James O’Hearn lived a life rich in family and friends. Terry was both frugal and generous, hard-working, fun, and funny. He embodied the principles of his faith, readily giving all he could in service of others. He was a humble gentleman who was happy to do whatever was necessary to keep things in good shape and his relationships healthy. Despite life’s hardships, Terry welcomed each day as a gift and every person as a friend. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Terry was an inspiration to all who were blessed to know him.

Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, the power of hope undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in the summer of 1937 as Gerald and Charlotte (Galka) O’Hearn welcomed their son Terry to their family.

The fifth of eight O’Hearn children, Terry’s childhood was filled with activity. While his father worked as a truck driver, his mother was a homemaker. The family attended St. James Catholic Church, and the kids were educated at St. James and Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School. Outside of school, Terry enjoyed hanging around the neighborhood kids, going to the movies, and picking on his older sister, Gerry. During his teen years, he played some football and attended school dances. His life was forever changed at the age of seventeen when he took the call that his dad had been hit by a drunk driver and would later die from his injuries.

Like many in his generation, Terry answered the call to serve his country in the U.S. Navy. After completing his basic training at Great Lakes, he was stationed in Beeville, Texas, where he was assigned to an aircraft carrier. During his four years of honorable service, he traveled the world and came to love Rome and Barcelona.

After safely returning home to West Michigan, Terry worked in the office of Grace Car Loading in the office, before pursuing the career of his father and two older brothers driving trucks and joining the Teamsters. He drove for Post Transfers and various companies in order to maintain his union tenure before driving for Consolidated Freightways until his retirement on his 63rd Birthday.

While working at Lear Siegler, Terry had the good fortune to meet a gal from Green Bay, Wisconsin, who also worked for the company. Dorothy Berg was two years older than Terry, and it took some persistence on Terry’s part to convince Dorothy to agree to a date. His determination paid off, and the two were soon dating steadily and setting their hearts on building a future together.

The happy couple married on April 24, 1965, at St. James, followed by a reception at Adrian’s. After honeymooning at Niagara Falls, they settled into married life in their first house on Paris SE. In 1971 they bought their forever home on John Ball Park Dive NW. It was here that they raised their sons, Timothy, Jeffrey, and Ryan, working together to create a loving and supportive home. Like his parents, Terry afforded his boys a Catholic education. He was an involved family man and a dad jokester who enjoyed giving out nicknames and was always laughing and having fun. The family also enjoyed an annual trip to Green Bay to see Dorothy’s family. From an early age, Terry’s sons knew that whether their dad was remodeling their house, helping others with projects, or cheering on their hopes and dreams, he never hesitated to give of himself fully.

Terry was a humble man who enjoyed the simple things in life, like Irish beer and whiskey, a great joke, and telling a good story. A sports fan, Terry enjoyed watching the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, Lions, and golf. He loved West Michigan summers which he kicked off by organizing Memorial Day picnics at Townsend Park. He loved to “Take a Run,” leisurely driving back roads to Grand Haven in his conversion van or ‘86 Olds Delta 88 and also marked the end of summer with a Labor Day picnic at Townsend Park. Any day was a good day to play golf, and through the years, the golf course became his favorite place to connect with friends and his sons and grandsons. He was the youngest and last surviving member of the Triangle Golf League that his brothers and friends started in the ’50s, golfing Friday nights at Gracewil Golf Club. The game became a common interest for him and his sons and eventually his grandsons, too. Many great conversations and times were shared over the years on many golf courses.

A devout Catholic, Terry consciously built his life on the firm foundation of his faith, which he explored and celebrated as a lifelong member of the fellowship at St. James before the parish recently closed, he started attending Holy Spirit Parish. His faith and family were never more important than as he and Dorothy supported their son Jeffrey’s three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. When Jeffrey died in 2013, it was family and faith that provided much-needed comfort. His grandsons were his heart’s delight, and he nurtured a special relationship with each one of them. He made sure to spend quality time bonding, listening to their hopes and dreams, and cheering on their every endeavor. In Terry’s eyes, Kyle and Lucas easily saw the reflections of their worth as well as their grandpa’s unwavering love and support.

One of the greatest gifts Terry gave his loved ones was the example of his marriage to Dorothy. Rooted in faith, love, and hope, Terry and Dorothy shared a genuine affinity for one another. They enjoyed each other’s good company, the family they were blessed to share, and the many treasured memories they made together during their 56 years of marriage. May we find comfort in knowing that Terry and Dorothy have been reunited with one another and their son, Jeff. And may we find comfort in the honor of carrying Terry’s example of how to live a wholehearted life forward.

Terry James O’Hearn of Grand Rapids, age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Terry was born in the summer of 1937 to the late Gerald and Charlotte (Galka) O’Hearn. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy, and his son, Jeffrey Peter O’Hearn. He is survived by his sons, Timothy (Carolyn) O’Hearn and Ryan O’Hearn; grandsons, Kyle and Lucas. Also surviving are his siblings, Gerry Newby, Sue (Bob) Makowski, and Steve O’Hearn; in-laws, Cliff Berg, Lucy and Bob Meyer, Verna Hanold; and many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 11 AM at Holy Spirit Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends may visit with family Tuesday from 5-8 PM with a rosary at 7:30 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. To read more of Terry’s life story, to leave a memory or condolence visit www.heritagelifestory.com.

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