Timothy T. "Tim" O'Dea

Tim T. O’Dea, 75, formerly of Kearney, passed away February 19, 2025, at his home in Elkhorn. Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 am, March 7, 2025, at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, March 6, 2025, at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Kearney Public Schools Foundation, University of Nebraska Foundation at University of Nebraska at Kearney, or Dobytown Kiwanis Club. Tim O’Dea was born on February 10, 1950, in Streeter, Illinois, to Edward and Mary O’Dea. Growing up he spent time in Toluca, Ill. and Burlington, IA and then spent his high school years in Chicago Heights, Ill. graduating from Marian Catholic High School in 1968. Shortly after, he traveled west to Kearney, Nebraska, to attend Kearney State College and play football for the Lopers. He was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and cherished the lifelong friendships he formed with his teammates and fraternity brothers. In 1972, he graduated with a degree in Education and later earned his Master’s in School Counseling in 1976. Perhaps the best thing to happen to Tim in Kearney was meeting Peggy Poullos. The two were married in Grand Island, Nebraska, on June 15, 1974, and were blessed with two daughters, Megan and Kate. Tim dedicated his career to helping Nebraska’s youth through various roles in education and rehabilitation. He began his career at the Youth Development Center, holding multiple positions until 1976. That year, he became a counselor at Pleasanton Public School and later served as principal from 1978 to 1988. He often shared stories about his students and kept in touch with many of them over the years. He also liked to joke that a city boy like him had no business driving a school bus down gravel roads. In 1988, “Mr. O’Dea” moved up to “the Hill,” where he became the principal of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC). He took immense pride in the school, his staff, and the young people he had the opportunity to mentor. In 1993, he became Superintendent, a role he held until his retirement in 2009. Tim believed that Kearney, USA, was the best place to live and was deeply committed to giving back to his community. He was involved in many organizations over the years, including Dobytown Kiwanis, Kearney Elks Lodge, Leadership Kearney, Kearney Colonels Club, Kearney Goodfellows, and the UNK Alumni Board. After retiring, he continued his service and also volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital. He loved seeing familiar faces and often joked that his job mostly consisted of answering two questions: “Where’s the bathroom?” and “Where’s Dr. Wright’s office?” Tim’s greatest passion in life was golf, a love instilled in him by his mother. He played countless rounds at Kearney Country Club and Meadowlark Hills with his regular golf group, but nothing brought him more joy than playing alongside his daughters. Many evenings and weekends were spent on the course together, and he rarely missed a tournament they played in—traveling across the country to cheer them on. Always their biggest supporter, his words of encouragement often came with a bit of colorful language, but his favorite piece of advice was always the same: “Take dead aim.” Beyond golf, Tim had a deep love for reading and sports. A devoted Husker fan, he followed football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball with unwavering enthusiasm. His loyalty to UNK athletics never wavered, especially Loper football, where he played from 1968 to 1972. He often said he was a “Loper for life” and took great pride in supporting UNK sports. His passion for athletics extended beyond just watching—he was a steadfast supporter of youth sports, always keeping up with results from high school teams across the state. Above all, Tim’s greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren, Rex and Poppy. As their beloved Papa, he found immense happiness in spoiling them, cheering them on, and sharing in their adventures. Whether offering words of encouragement or simply enjoying their company, his love for them was boundless. Tim is survived by his daughters, Megan and Brian Jenkins of Omaha, and Kate and Paul Roh of Omaha; grandson, Rex Jenkins of Omaha; and granddaughter, Poppy Terhaar of Omaha. He is also survived by his brother, Kevin O’Dea of Springfield, Illinois; sister, Susan and Pence Parsons of San Diego, California; as well as many special nieces, a nephew, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, friends, and teammates who will cherish his memory for years to come. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; his parents, Edward and Mary O’Dea; and his in-laws, Des and Alex Poullos. Tim’s legacy is one of dedication—to his family, his community, his students, and the many lives he touched along the way. He will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Tributes

Timothy T. "Tim" O'Dea

February 10, 1950 - February 19, 2025