Brian O'Neill

Brian Francis Xavier O’Neill passed away in his home in Springfield on Monday, April 22, 2024.

He was born on April 22, 1955, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Timothy J.J. O’Neill and Bessie Anna Delastrada O’Neill. His father was in the Air Force during his earlier years, and the family lived in various locations in California, as well as on the island of Guam, until retiring to Boise, Idaho, in 1967, where Brian grew up and started his career as chef. He graduated from Capital High School in 1973, at which point he was already in the food and beverage industry. He worked his way up from dishwasher to line cook and ultimately to restaurant manager at Vic Haus Restaurant. From there he managed The Gamekeeper Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Boise.

Brian moved to Springfield in the mid-‘80’s soon after John Q Hammonds opened the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center where he took on the role of Executive Chef at University Plaza Hotel. During his time there he cooked for notable people including President George Bush (Senior) and Bob Hope. He also developed his skills in ice carvings which were used to decorate the buffets served to convention-goers for which he was recognized in a write-up in the Springfield Weekly Report. He left University Plaza in 1992 to manage the kitchen at McGuffey’s in Branson, and in 1995 went to work for Landry’s in Branson in a variety of positions as a chef. He retired from Landry’s in 2013.

Brian loved music, both to play and to listen. He picked up the drums and guitar in his younger years and they remained central to his leisure time. He was an avid Beatles fan, as well as Alice Cooper, the latter whom he followed through his evolution of music styles. Brian enjoyed a good game of golf as much as he enjoyed a game of poker with his friends. He was a loyal Jeopardy! watcher and a reader of history. When football season rolled around each year the Kansas City Chiefs took second place to his favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks. Every time the Seahawks played he would check in with family in Washington to alert them that “Missouri’s 12th Man is on Duty!”. Most importantly Brian loved his family and was known as “Uncle Snags” to his nephews and nieces.

Brian is survived by his younger sister, Kathleen O’Neill and brother-in-law, Steve Butler, of Battle Ground, Washington, and nephews, Tyler and Dylan Butler; older sister, Patricia O’Neill of Guerneville, California, and niece, Heather Wagner (Derek), and great-niece Isabelle Wagner and great-nephew Ryan Wagner; nephew Eric Gilliatt (Michael) of San Diego, California; and sister-in-law Dai Noh Chek, mother to niece, Anna Mei O’Neill, who is the daughter of his late brother, Michael O’Neill of Portland, Oregon.

A Celebration of Brian’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Branson RecPlex. Brian is inurned at Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery in Branson, Missouri.

Brian spent his adult life cooking good food for people. His family recommends donations in his name to organizations that provide food to those in need such as No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen, or a local food bank, as a special way to honor his memory.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.