O'CONNOR, James Francis 1930-2012

OCONNOR, HAGER, KRIEGER

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 7/7/2014 at 14:02:05

Obituary for James F. O'Connor--

James F. "Jim" O'Connor age 82 of New Hampton, Iowa died Friday, November 9, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton.

A Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 12, 2012, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. At Jim’s request, his body has been gifted to the University of Iowa.

Arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Online condolences for Jim's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com

James Francis O’Connor was born March 28, 1930, in New Hampton, Iowa the oldest child of Chester and Lena (Krieger) O’Connor. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and was a 1948 graduate of the New Hampton High School. At a young age, Jim was active in all sports excelling in baseball, basketball and football while in high school. In 1948, Jim headed to South Bend, IN, to attend Notre Dame University. He graduated in 1952. In later years, he fondly recalled and told many stories about his time at Notre Dame. Following graduation he was inducted into the United States Army and served three years in Military Intelligence.

On June 17, 1957, at the Notre Dame Chapel, he married Jerri Hager. The couple made New Hampton their home where they raised their two sons, Michael and Patrick. Jim went to work in the family clothing store located on Main Street in New Hampton. The store, O’Connor Clothing had been a long time New Hampton business, originating in 1917. He operated the store until it’s closing in 1993. Many New Hampton residents have fond recollections of Jim's warm smile
and hearty laugh when shopping in his store.

His love of New Hampton and his story-telling abilities became even more apparent as he took a position at the New Hampton Newspaper first as a reporter and then as a columnist, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. Through his weekly column he kept us all abreast of our history and his personal reflections.

Jim had a life-long love to gamble. He loved waging bets on his card games, at the golf course and the dog and horse tracks. His high point was picking a ‘twin-trifecta’ at the dog track in 1988, winning him over $45,000. His love of sports remained with him throughout his life, having won the club championship at the New Hampton Golf and Country Club. He was also a life-long true blue Notre Dame fan. He was a very gentle care-taker for his wife, Jeri, in the last years of her life. Jeri died on October 22, 2001, at the age of 76. In 2006, Jim and his son, Michael took a very memorable week-long trip to Ireland.

He is survived by two sons, Michael (Victoria) O’Connor of San Antonio, Texas, and Patrick (Amy) O’Connor of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; three grandchildren, Michael Patrick O’Connor, Alec James O’Connor and Katrina Quinn O’Connor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and a sister, Dorothy O’Connor.

Source: Hugeback Funeral Home website

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