Tom O'Connor
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - August 7, 2021
Tom O’Connor
November 4, 1930 - August 3, 2021
Tom O’Connor,
much-loved father and
grandfather and lifelong
resident of Mesa County,
died peacefully in his sleep
on Tuesday, August 3, at
the age of 90.
Thomas Wayne
O’Connor was born
November 4, 1930, in Grand Junction, Colorado, the
fourth child of Luther L. and Jennie S. (McGinley)
O’Connor. He graduated from Fruita Union High
School in 1948, and attended Mesa Junior College. He
was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, and served
as a corporal in the Korean War. After his service, he
returned to farm with his father and three brothers in
the Hunter District and became a lifelong farmer in the
Valley.
From 1962 to 1991 he was married to Carol Ann
Fiegel, with whom he had four children, Crystal Ann
(David Murphy), of Grand Junction; Suzan O’Connor,
of Salem, Oregon; Colette Brown, of Spokane,
Washington, and Shawn O’Connor (Amy Partsch) of
Loma.
He was proud to be grandfather to McKenna,
Keegan, Shannon, Thomas, Torin, Cameron, Lindsey,
Katherine, and Christopher, who survive him. He is
also survived by brother, S. James of Fruita, as well as
many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by
his sister, Theresa Zmerzlikar; brothers, Larry and Jack
O’Connor, and son-in-law, Dr. Ryan Brown.
Tom loved playing baseball in his youth and in the
Army and played with the semi-pro Grand Junction
Eagles as a pitcher. In his later years, Tom maintained a
close relationship with his brothers and had coffee most
days with old friends he grew up with. He had many
friends from all walks of life and enjoyed them all.
Funeral Mass, beginning with a rosary and eulogy,
will be Wednesday, August 11, at 9:00 a.m., at Sacred
Heart Catholic Church in Fruita, followed by a luncheon.
Inurnment will be Wednesday, August 25, at 9:45 a.m.,
at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.
