Edward Charles O'Connor

Peoria- Edward Charles O’Connor, “Epper”, age 94 of Peoria, Illinois passed away at 8:45 am Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Heartland of Peoria, Illinois. He was born January 11, 1915, in Ottawa, Illinois to Dennis Timothy O’Connor and Margaret Mary (Downing). Edward’s father passed away when he was nine and his mother married Ed Bute. He had several step brothers, a step sister and a half brother Victor Bute. He married Alta Mae (Halverson) of Ottawa, Illinois December 7, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. She preceded him in death March 31, 1981. They were divorced in the 1950’s. He married Della Mae Webb, she passed away July 5, 1964. He married Gertrude “Gertie” Mason July 24, 1965 and they renewed their vows in the Catholic Church July 24, 1990. She preceded him in death July 14, 1998. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his two daughters: Margaret M. “Peggy” (Buss) of East Peoria, Illinois and Darlene D. (Roger) Campbell of East Peoria, Illinois, several grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and one brother Robert R. O’Connor of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also survived by a step-daughter Judith (Bob) Patterson of Dunlap, Illinois and step-son Charles G. Mason of Chillicothe, Illinois, several step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. Edward was raised in Ottawa, Illinois and graduated from Ottawa High School where he was active in the R.O.T.C. In his earlier years he worked as a foreman in the Peliter Marble Factory and also as a foreman and painter in the Seneca, Illinois Shipyard during World War II. He was a housepainter in Colorado and he relocated to Peoria, Illinois in the mid 1940’s. He was a painter for the School District 150 in Peoria, Illinois and retired in 1975. He attended St. Boniface Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church and he was a long time member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Peoria, Illinois. Edward lived an active life “his way”. He was an excellent ice skater, a fantastic dancer, sang in the Barber Shop Quartet at the Peoria Moose in the 1950’s, and he loved sports. He won several bowling, horseshoes, shuffleboard and golfing trophies. He also got two hole in one’s. He kept fit working out at the YMCA until he was 93 years old. He loved to walk, never using a golf cart, and in the last few years he only took the clubs he knew he would use. He also loved the Irish family reunions at Gould Park, in Morris, Illinois where the Chicago, Ottawa, Peoria, Illinois and the Indiana Clans would meet. The activities were always competitive, he could really slam a baseball and the card games were wild! He and Gertie enjoyed traveling to Texas during the winter seasons. He recently talked about his teen years when he “grabbed a handful of boxcars and rode out west to see the world” and of times he went camping and horseback riding in Colorado. He loved his beer and Pizza Hut personal pan size pepperoni pizza after Church. He was a Cub fan and Gertie was a Cardinal fan and the bets were on! Life didn’t get any better than this. He passed away peacefully in his sleep as were his family’s wishes and prayers. Funeral Mass for Edward C. O’Connor will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 10:30 am at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Peoria. Monsignor Paul Showalter will officiate. Burial will take place following mass at Resurrection Cemetery on Allen Rd. in Peoria, IL. Visitation will be held a half hour prior to mass at the church, beginning at 10 am. Additional visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at Deiters Funeral Home in East Peoria.

Edward Charles O'Connor

January 10, 1915 - February 21, 2009