Darrell William O'Connor 1924-2012

OCONNOR FRITZ MILLER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/1/2012 at 17:21:49

Sioux City Journal
April 13, 2012

Darrell W. O'Connor, 88, of Mapleton passed away on April 12, 2012, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton, with Gary Thies presiding. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Darrell William O'Connor was born on Jan. 25, 1924, on a farm five miles west and north of Soldier, Iowa. He was the son of Ethel Mary Fritz and Alvin O'Connor, and the sixth of nine children. He went to Whitney Country School and graduated from the eighth grade. He did not get to high school as he was needed in the work force. He raised cattle, hogs, and horses and milked a lot of cows. He had many acres of crops to till and harvest. He raised corn, oats and many acres of hay land. There was lots of hard work, as much of the work was done by hand. He survived the drought of 1936 and the bank closings of 1929, known as Black Thursday. Things were going very well, then along came World War II.

The draft had started a little earlier, which affected all small communities, and many of the older neighbor boys were drafted for what was called one year. Some were married, which produced the song, "I'll Be Back in a Year Little Darling." Some never returned. Then it hit his household, first his older brother, then brothers-in-law. Many items of everyday living, such as gas, sugar and tires, were rationed, and everybody had to go without a lot. The home front became a very important part of winning the war.

Darrell was called to duty by November 1943 and was off to take a physical, which he passed with flying colors. He was given a choice of branch of service. He chose the U.S. Navy. He then boarded a new aircraft carrier, the USS Shamrock, which was his new home for the next two years, as a gunner. He first served in the Atlantic Ocean, then Pacific until the war was over. He was discharged in April 1946. He came back to farm near Soldier with his dad until 1950.

He then married his little sweetheart, Florence Ilene Miller, on Jan. 26, 1950. They farmed and raised cattle and hogs. They started their family of six children, four girls and two boys, all of whom are grown and gone from home. They live on their farm three miles west of Mapleton.

Those left to cherish their memories of Darrell include his wife of 62 years, Florence; children, Lou (late Dean) Venteicher of Ida Grove, Iowa, Darla and David Schleis of Mapleton, Freddie and Shari O'Connor of Canton, S.D., Rita and David Rose of Mapleton, Jane Anderson of Norwalk, Iowa, and Pam (O'Connor) Deiber; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a sister, Cathrine of California; and a brother, Eddie and Cheryl O'Connor of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his son, Perry O'Connor; two grandchildren, Adam Venteicher and Beverly Schleis; his parents, Alvin and Ethel O'Connor; his in-laws, Gus and Gladys Miller; a son-in-law, Dean Venteicher; five sisters; and a brother.

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