William T. O’Connor
Article Photos
Visitation will be held at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home on Monday, May 12, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 7:30-10:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. There will be a rosary by the Knights of Columbus at 6:30 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. both Monday at the funeral home.
Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with Celebrant Monsignor Douglas L. Grams and the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis presiding, with burial in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery immediately following mass.
Bill was born in St. Paul on October 2, 1934 to William and Grace O’Connor of Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He was raised in Belle Plaine with his three sisters. After graduating in 1952 from Belle Plaine High School he graduated from the College of St. Thomas in 1959 and William Mitchell College of Law in 1963. He married Mary Kay Manley on February 16, 1963 in St. Paul, Minnesota and in 1964 they moved to New Ulm where he joined the Berens Rodenberg law firm.
Bill dedicated his life to the practice of law, his family and his faith. He worked tirelessly in his practice until three weeks ago. Over the course of his 44 year career as an attorney with Berens, Rodenberg & O’Connor he devoted his practice to the people of New Ulm and to cooperatives. His many talents were recognized shortly after arriving in New Ulm when he was awarded the Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Man of the Year award. For many years he served as the Assistant County Attorney for Brown County and occasionally for Redwood County and Sibley County. In addition, he also served on many boards over his career, serving as the chairman of the board for Loretto Hospital. Bill served on the Lawyer’s Board of Professional Responsibility and the local , ethics board. In his civic life he served on the New Ulm Public Utilities Commission and the Police Commission. For two decades Bill served on the board of directors of Turner Hall and was also its president. As a member of the Knights of Columbus he became the Grand Knight in 1965 and went on to be the state advocate and editor of the state paper. He especially enjoyed serving as the attorney for the Diocese of New Ulm, serving under three bishops, and received a Distinguished Service Award from Bishop Lucker. After teaching CCD for 25 years he was given the Good Neighbor Award by the City of New Ulm.
Blessed with a quick wit and dry humor and known as the Great Curmudgeon, Bill was often sought out by clients and friends to serve as emcee for dinners and banquets.
Being an Irishman in New Ulm, Bill took great pleasure in his role as Blarneymeister of the longest continuous running St. Patrick’s Day parade in Minnesota. He had a lifelong passion for cooking and gardening and was a faithful fan of his grandchildren’s sporting events and recitals.
Bill enjoyed spending time with his five children and 16 grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Mary and their five children and families. Timothy and Margaret O’Connor of Richfield, Minnesota and their children Meagan, Erin and Kelly; Katie and Larry Gambell of Spencer, Iowa and their children Shawn and Madeleine Dickson of Fuerth, Germany and their children Maxim and Liam, Colin Dickson of Ames Iowa and Brianna and Crystal Gambell of Spencer, Iowa; Daniel and Emily O’Connor of New Ulm and their children Korinne, Quinlan, Ethan and Madalyn; Michael and Mary O’Connor of Lakeville, Minnesota and their children Caroline, Claire and Matthew; Molly and Lyle Poulson of New Ulm and their children Ramsey and Camryn. He is also survived by his sister Donna (Mark) Healy of Minnetonka, Minnesota and several nephews and a niece. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Pat Sifferle and Eileen Gudmundsen and nephew Jim Gudmundsen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society and St. Mary’s Church.
