Emmett O'Connor

Emmett (Bud) O’Connor, 89, died December 31, 2008. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Emmett Leo and Dorothy O’Connor. As a youngster, Emmett spent countless hours visiting the family’s cabins at Devil’s Lake near Webster, Wisconsin. Emmett attended school in St. Paul, and worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He served with the Army’s tank destroyers unit during World War II, surviving the Battle of the Bulge. Emmett married Bernice in St. Paul on July 14, 1942. Together they raised five children. He worked for the railroad for a time then became a crane operator for the St. Paul Foundry and Iron Works. After a visit to Colorado in 1953, Emmett decided to become a crane operator for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation in Pueblo where he spent the next 30 years of his life. Upon his retirement from the CF&I, Emmett and Bernice returned to his beloved Webster, where he has remained till his death. Throughout Emmett’s lifetime he enjoyed his family, being a member of the Moose Lodge, fishing, raising and riding horses, golfing, and piloting single engine aircraft making several flying trips around the country. Emmett is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bernice, two daughters, Maureen Kallio and Pamela Johnson both of Colorado, son Terrance (Rhonda) O’Connor of Arizona, his grandchildren Patrick (Tammy) and Charles (Sara) Ryan, Gregory (Dani) Kallio, David (April) O'Connor and Brian O’Connor and his great grandchildren Adrian, Brittany, Heather, Gavin, Kiera, Cassie and Josh. He is also survived by his brothers, Jerry and Jimmy O’Connor, and his sister, Barbara Munger plus numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sons Dennis and Michael, his mother and father, his brothers John and Peter, and his sister, Patricia. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Dennis Mullen officiating. Music was provided by Kim Dropps. Interment followed at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Casketbearers were Terrance O’Connor, Patrick Ryan, Greg Kallio, Charles Ryan, and Jeff O’Connor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, Wisconsin.