O'Conner, Bernard W.

Bernard W. O'Conner, 91, of Iowa City, died Friday, March 15, 2013, at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez will officiate. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Riverside, with full military graveside rites. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City, with a parish rosary beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to the Bernard W. O'Conner Memorial Fund.

Bernard was born Aug. 13, 1921, in Riverside, the son of William B. and Kathryn C. (Frank) O'Conner.

Graduating from St. Mary's High School in Riverside, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II from 1942 to 1945. Bernard married Lenore Wagner on Jan. 4, 1943, in Iowa City.

Bernard farmed near Riverside until 1962, when the family moved to Iowa City. He worked for the Iowa City Community School District for 21 years as supervisor of plumbing, retiring in 1987. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, VFW and the American Legion.

Bernard was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great- and great-great-grandfather. He was a tough Irishman with a quirky sense of humor and a strong sense of family. He was a jack-of-all trades with a very strong work ethic. His children will remember him fondly for never letting them leave the house without a “dime” to call home if they needed a ride. Their Sunday drives in the station wagon always ended with a stop at Dane's Dairy. He will be greatly missed and loved eternally.

Bernard is survived by his daughters, Colleen Williams of Dubuque, Barbara O'Conner of Iowa City, Cheryl Neely of Lone Tree, Teresa Mackey (Jesse) of Greenland, Ark., Mary Eakes of Coralville, Bernadette Rotter (Steve) of New London, Iowa, Jerilynn O'Conner of Iowa City, Angela Eakes (Glenn) of Bettendorf, Christine Burr (Tom) of West Liberty and Regina Flores (Rick) of Ramona, Calif.; 29 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Leroy O'Conner of Riverside and William O'Connor (Ellen) of Albuquerque, three sisters, Frances Duwa of Riverside, Kathleen Hernandez of Cedar Rapids Joann Laures (Ray) of Dewitt; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lenore; two daughters, Judy Abby and Annette O'Conner; two sisters, Mildred Denton and Verena Roscoe; four brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com

Published March 18, 2013 in The Gazette