Dennis Francis O'Conner
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - March 27, 2018
Dennis Francis O’Connor, age 80, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, March 22, 2018. He was born on November 3, 1937, in Ogden, Utah, the son of Roderick G. and Virginia Lee (Drake) O’Connor. He went active into the Navy after basic training in San Diego and was sent to Norman, Oklahoma for Naval aviation school and then about three years on the USS Ticonderoga, CVA 14 aircraft carrier. He was a Korean Veteran and after serving in the Navy, joined the Marine Corp Reserve. Dennis worked for 29 years on the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad as a trainman and conductor and three years on the Chicago North Western Black Hill Division out of Chadron, Nevada and one year on Amtrak. He was one of the founders of the Rio Grande Railroad Historical Society and Grand Junction Racing Pigeon Club. He enjoyed collecting paintings, ashtrays, coins and other items. He raised racing pigeons and loved dogs and cats. He had an amazing memory and loved to talk. In the last year, Dennis moved to Kansas to be closer to his son, who he was most proud of, and his family. He loved getting visits from his grandsons and telling them stories, giving them advice and sometimes treating them to a soda. He will be mostly remembered for his generosity and supporting many organizations that helped the less fortunate. Dennis is survived by son, Brent O’Connor and wife, Julie, of St. George; brother, Rod O’Connor of Boulder, Colorado; sister, Pam Bloomquist of Salt Lake City, Utah, and grandsons, Joshua, Brayton and Evan O’Connor. Graveside services with Military Honors were held on March 26, 2018, at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery with Pastor Jared Garren officiating. The Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family at www. apfunerals.com.
