His death date was learned by consulting the online database of the Blair Cemetery.

Published in The Enterprise, July 29, 1965

PHILIP O’HANLON, BLAIR ATT’Y DIED SUDDENLY HERE MONDAY

DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO A HEART ATTACK.

HAD ENTERED HOSPITAL

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Philip O’Hanlon, well known Blair attorney and lifetime resident of Blair, died suddenly Monday afternoon at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair. Death was attributed to a heart attack. He was 60 years old.

Mr. O’Hanlon had suffered some discomfort during Sunday night and early Monday decided to submit to an examination to determine the cause of his ailment. He entered the hospital Monday morning. Death came at 2:30 Monday afternoon.

Mr. O’Hanlon was born at Blair June 17, 1905, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clark O’Hanlon, Sr. He grew up in Blair and graduated from Blair High School. Following his graduation he entered the University of Nebraska from which he graduated and then continued work at the University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1927. He was among the ten honor graduates of the class.

Following his graduation he returned to Blair where he entered the law firm of O’Hanlon & O’Hanlon which was made up of his father and his brother, Reed O’Hanlon, Sr.

On September 21, 1928, he was married to Miss Lozein Rhoades and to this union two children were born. He wife and both children survive. The children are Sara, now Mrs. Richard Sack of New City, New York, and James of Athens, Ohio who is a professor at Ohio University. There are four grandchildren.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his brother, Reed O’Hanlon Sr.; a sister, Miss Frances O’Hanlon, both of Blair; and a brother, Luther O’Hanlon of California.

The O’Hanlon, O’Hanlon & O’Hanlon firm continued for a number of years until the death of Clark O’Hanlon Sr. A short time later Clark O’Hanlon Jr., son of Reed O’Hanlon Sr., joined the firm.

Mr. O’Hanlon was a man of many friends. He preferred to work in the background of most activities and was seldom in the public eye. But he worked faithfully and continuously for many causes and his efforts were more effective than was often realized. He was regarded by his colleagues as an outstanding attorney: one who carefully worked out knotty problems which others might have given up as impossible.

He was a man of many hobbies, all of which he pursued with considerable enthusiasm and vigor. He is best known in Blair for his interest in the raising of flowers and his block-long gardens at the rear of his home on South street are well-planned beauty spots which draw the admiration and praise of even those who did not understand flowers. He traveled extensively to flower shows about the country seeking out unusual specimens and new varieties and he became an authority on flowers, shrubbery and trees.

An avid reader, his home became a virtual library of books, current magazines and reference material of all sorts.

Mr. O’Hanlon was a charter member of the Blair Rotary Club and was a past president of the organization. He was a member of the Congregational church; the I.O.O.F.; was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fort Atkinson Foundation; and had served on the Board of the Washington County Historical Society. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Blair Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services are being held this (Thursday) morning at 10 o’clock at the Congregational church in Blair. The Rev. Harold Schaible, pastor of the church, is conducting the service. Burial, under the direction of the Campbell Mortuary, will be made in the Blair Cemetery.

Pall bearers are James Gutschow, Robert C. Hunt, Gordon Vinton, Stanley J. Bednar, Alfred O. Sick, and the Rev. Harold Jorgensen.