O'Hara, John Philip, passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 25, 2022.

He was the beloved husband of Melanie (nee Schleinat) for 45 years and 1 day and proud father of Sean Timothy O'Hara. Dear brother-in-law of Robert and Sharon (nee Degen) Schleinat and the late Mary Agnes (nee Schleinat) Eichenberger (Ike). Uncle of Laura Schisler (Donald) and Tim Schleinat (Jess); great uncle of David, Zack and Juliet; cousin and friend.

John was born on February 12, 1945 in St Louis, Mo. and was an alum of Lutheran High School South class of '64.

He attended Southwest Mo. State where he completed a B.S. in Ed. (History/English). After graduating he was drafted into the Army where he served in Vietnam as a Chaplains Assistant.

When he returned home John was awarded a graduate assistantship at St. Louis University, completing a Master of Arts degree in Urban Affairs.

In 1975 John began a 36 year career with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as a Research Analyst. He was active in the Religious Research Association (RRA) and the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB), serving on various boards and as a president. When reflecting on his career at his 50th college reunion in 2020 John said his most rewarding experience was, "Working with some of the best minds in the sociology of religion."

In 1989 Concordia College in River Forest conferred on John an Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. When his son, Sean, recently completed a DMA John boasted, "Now there are two doctors in the house!"

John spent his retirement reading, taking road trips, following the Cardinals and caring for his rescue puppy Casey.

Services: Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Monday July 25. 2022 at 11:30 a.m. As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.