Eugene J. O'Toole

Eugene J. O’Toole Jr., 88, of St. Joseph, passed away, Friday, December 02, 2011 at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:00 P.M. Noon Monday, December 5, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph with Msgr. Eugene Sears officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Cremation will follow the service with burial at North Shore Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. Sunday with Liturgical Prayers recited at 5:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease. Those wishing to sign Eugene’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Eugene was born December 14, 1922 in Benton Harbor to Eugene Sr. & Genevieve (Hildebrand) O’Toole. He attended the University of Notre Dame before joining the Army Air Corp to serve his country during WWII. On November 26, 1955, he married the former Dorothy Hoelscher in Covington, Kentucky. Eugene was employed in retail sales all his life, beginning with the family business, Rimes and Hildebrand, in downtown St. Joseph. He was also employed at Karsen Ford Sales, Industrial Appraisal Co., Ace Hardware in Scottdale, and most recently, Hilltop Department Store. Eugene was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Stevensville American Legion, FOP Lodge #96, and formerly St. Joseph Elks #541 and the VFW. He enjoyed watching baseball and Notre Dame football. Eugene is survived by his children-John “Jack” (Phyllis) O’Toole of Eau Claire, Dr. Kathryn “Katie” (Richard) Kramer of Peoria, IL, Margaret “Maggie” (Bruce) Aungst & Theresa “Louie” (Wayne) Tremblay, both of St. Joseph; four grandchildren-Caleb & Logan O’Toole and Lexie & Cassie Kramer. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Wygant in 1972, and his wife Dorothy on August 28, 2004.