Kenneth Warren O'Neil

Submitted by Warren's sister, 
Tammie Gatzemeier

Tammie states that her big brother, Warren, was an awesome basketball player who dreamed of playing at the college level. He was raised on the family farm south of Rudyard. He had three older brothers and two younger sisters. His dad gave all the kids [and later the grandkids] nicknames and Warren's was Shorty. Tammie remembers Warren's love for his family, the farm, animals, sports and little kids.

Tammie was a freshman in high school when Warren, a senior, was killed. She remembers seeing him walk down the hall that day, at Inverness High School, with a big smile on his face.

The accident happened on Hwy. 2, just east of the Liberty-Hill County line about 2 p.m. The Inverness shop class was returning from Joplin. Warren was riding in the school bus and his best friend, JEFFREY CRAIG VAN WECHEL, was following in a pickup.

Suddenly, the pickup went around the school bus and both vehicles stopped. Warren hopped in Jeff's truck and Jeff then made a U turn in front of an oncoming semi. Both Warren and Jeff were killed instantly. The semi and the pickup landed in the snow-filled barrow pit on the north side of the road. The pickup was totally destroyed. Warren's cross was later moved from the north to the south side of the highway, one mile east of Joplin.

April 12, 1959 -

January 24, 1977