David O'Connor

DAVID FRANCIS O'CONNOR, 92, died peacefully surrounded by his wife and family on February 28, 2017 at the Luverne Veterans Home.

David was born to Joe and Marie (Bourdelais) O’Connor on May 10, 1924 in Beresford, South Dakota. He grew up in Vermillion, SD and left high school early to enter the military at age 18. He bravely served his country during the initial D-Day landing on June 6, 1944 as a medic on Utah Beach, and from France on to Germany and the end of the war. After his discharge, David completed his high school requirements in May 1946, and graduated from the University of South Dakota in May 1950 with a B.S. in Education. On May 28, 1949, David married Charlotte Ann Kaltsulas, and began a loving and dedicated marriage that spanned over 67 years and brought them four children.

After his graduation from USD, he had just begun his teaching career at Wallace, SD., when he was called to active duty to serve his country again on October 1, 1950 for the Korean War. As a 1st Lieutenant and Company Commander, David earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Upon his discharge from the military in 1952, David restarted his teaching career at Jeffers, MN in the industrial arts. And as Captain David O’Connor, he continued his service as the Company Commander of the Worthington, MN Army Reserve Unit until 1965, when he moved his family from Jeffers, MN to Pipestone, MN to continue his teaching career. As the industrial arts, architectural drawing and drivers’ education teacher, he touched the lives of hundreds of local students. David, who was fondly called “Big O”, was respected and loved by his students. Often described as a “favorite teacher”, “a mentor”, “supportive”, and “the best”, he made a lasting impact for generations. David also reentered the military as a Staff Sergeant and recruiter for the Pipestone National Guard unit, and during his summer months, worked as a ranger at the Pipestone National Monument. He retired from teaching in 1989.

David was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. He loved to make furniture, and he also enjoyed refinishing the furniture he and Charlotte bought at auctions.

David loved his family, and he was loved by them. To truly understand the person David was, however, you need only look to his wife, Charlotte. They loved each other deeply. David was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. During the difficult final five years, David lived at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Despite the distance that separated them, Charlotte was by his side daily. He may not have known who she was, but she never wavered from their wedding vows, “Til death do us part”. Together, they set an example for loving and living through good times and bad.

David’s smile, sense of humor and steady grace will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Charlotte O’Connor of Pipestone, MN; four children, Stephen (Bev) O’Connor of Rosemount, MN, Gregory O’Connor of Lenexa, KS, Elizabeth (friend, Martie Garcia) O’Connor of Saint Paul, MN, and Letitia “Tish” (Tom) Abrahamson of Pipestone, MN; four grandchildren, David (Karen) Abrahamson, Sarah (Nick) Wagner, Mark (Santana) Abrahamson, and Alex Abrahamson; and five great-grandchildren, Charlie and Lauren Wagner, and Cole, Noah, and Connor Abrahamson; four sisters, Catherine Danielson of Vermillion, SD, Suzanne (Clare) Sorheim of Gillette, WY, Letitia (Ed) Joyce of Middletown, NJ, and Judy (Bob) Shannon of Modesto, CA. David is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Willard, and one sister, Margaret Fortin.

MEMORIALS may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association of Minnesota and North Dakota via their website: http://www.alz.org/mnnd/
OR MAILED TO:
Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota
7900 West 78th Street, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55439