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Joseph O’Connor
Joseph Willard O’Connor, 81, passed away Monday, June 16, 2008, in Santa Ana, CA, after losing a courageous battle against cancer. Willard was born in Sioux City, IA to Joseph and Marie (Bourdelais) O’Connor on June 25, 1926. His parents, who preceded him in death, lived in Vermillion, where Willard attended high school.
After working for a time in the trucking business with his father, Willard moved to Yankton to start his own business and begin a family. His love for automobiles and his skill as a mechanic and businessman led to his opening O’Connor Used Cars, which became a well-known business in Yankton.
The success of his first enterprise led to a new car dealership, O’Connor Sales and Service, which was a fixture in downtown Yankton for many years. In 1980, Willard retired to Orange County, CA, where he was residing at the time of his death.
Willard was a kind and helpful friend to everyone he met and he will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many friends and family, especially his children, Jerry O’Connor (Stephanie) of Omaha, NE, Julie Pitel (Bob) of Granite Bay, CA, and Mary Walter (Jeff) of Fremont, CA. He is also survived by six siblings, brother David O’Connor (Charlotte) of Pipestone, MN; sisters Margaret Fortin of Atwater, CA, Catherine Danielson (Glenn) of Vermillion, Leticia Boro of Middletown, NJ, Suzanne Sorheim (Clare) of Gillette, WY, Judith Shannon (Bob) of Modesto, CA; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Tuesday, July 22 at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Willard will be interred in Calvary Cemetery next to his parents.
Iverson-Siecke-Kober Funeral Home, Vermillion, was in charge of arrangements.
After working for a time in the trucking business with his father, Willard moved to Yankton to start his own business and begin a family. His love for automobiles and his skill as a mechanic and businessman led to his opening O’Connor Used Cars, which became a well-known business in Yankton.
The success of his first enterprise led to a new car dealership, O’Connor Sales and Service, which was a fixture in downtown Yankton for many years. In 1980, Willard retired to Orange County, CA, where he was residing at the time of his death.
Willard was a kind and helpful friend to everyone he met and he will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many friends and family, especially his children, Jerry O’Connor (Stephanie) of Omaha, NE, Julie Pitel (Bob) of Granite Bay, CA, and Mary Walter (Jeff) of Fremont, CA. He is also survived by six siblings, brother David O’Connor (Charlotte) of Pipestone, MN; sisters Margaret Fortin of Atwater, CA, Catherine Danielson (Glenn) of Vermillion, Leticia Boro of Middletown, NJ, Suzanne Sorheim (Clare) of Gillette, WY, Judith Shannon (Bob) of Modesto, CA; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Tuesday, July 22 at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Willard will be interred in Calvary Cemetery next to his parents.
Iverson-Siecke-Kober Funeral Home, Vermillion, was in charge of arrangements.
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