Raymond O'Hara

Raymond Patrick (Pat) O’Hara, 81, on March 18th, 2014, at the end of a joyous day spent with his family by his side, went to be with his Heavenly Father whom he claimed as his Lord and Savior.

He was born to Raymond Patrick Sr. and Lenore Lucille (Kuyava) O’Hara on December 8, 1932. Pat was a lifelong native of Duluth. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1951 and then served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1954 during the Korean War in Yokohama, Japan, where he made many lifelong friends and climbed Mount Fuji. He joined in marriage with the love of his life, Barbara Kuras on September 17th, 1955. Pat worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He also enjoyed being an entrepreneur and started many businesses in the 60s and 70s, including The Minnesota Technical Institute; the first arcade in the area called the Fun Hut; The Cross Roads Inn; and the Plaza Motel. In the 80s he began Custom Communications Systems installing telephone systems. Most recently he was the business owner of Custom Blacktop and Repair where he truly enjoyed working with businesses and people all over the Northland.

He and his wife Barb mostly enjoyed spending time with family and friends socializing, traveling throughout the United States and Mexico in their RV, and kayaking Lake Superior, Boulder Lake, and the surrounding lakes and rivers. This passion he shared with his children and extended family. Pat was the solid foundation for his family, always loving, devoted, encouraging, and supportive in all their dreams.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Joseph and Edna Kuras; brother-in-law, Rod Wilgren; and former son-in-law Douglas Peterson.

He will be greatly missed by the lovely lady who has been always by his side, Barbara; son, Tom (Denise) O’Hara; daughters, Nancy (Bill) Wagner, Kim Enos, Sandi (Rich) Skoglund; grandchildren, Sarah (Anthony) McCoy, Nathan (Jen) Enos, Taylor Peterson, Raymond, Rilyn and Reece Skoglund, and Nolan O’Hara; great-grandchildren, Noah and Ezra McCoy, and Elijah Enos; sisters Marjorie Wilgren and Kathleen (Scott) Dennis; brother-in-law, Ray Kuras (Vi Mork); and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

He will also be missed by many friends whom he created everywhere he went. An extra special thank you to his daughter Kim who coordinated his care this past year with unending love and dedication, caring for him in his home until the end, and to the PCAs who quickly became his special friends.

Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2014, from 3PM until the start of the service at 4PM, at Hermantown Community Church, 4880 Maple Grove Rd, Hermantown, MN 55811.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555.