WILLIAM JOHN O'CONNOR

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WILLIAM JOHN O'CONNOR May 26, 1932 - February 6, 2008 John passed away suddenly on February 6, 2008, while vacationing in Mexico with his wife Teresa. He was predeceased by his parents, Myrtle and Bill O'Connor, and his sister Margaret (Wilkinson, Tribe). He is survived by his sister Nora (George Stromme) and his nieces and nephews of Wainwright, Alberta. John will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Teresa Mangione, and his children: Mary Ellen (David LeBrun), and grandchildren, Madeleine, Joey and Lucie LeBrun of Kingston, Ontario; Anne Louise (John Ross) and twin grandchildren, Liam and Emily Ross of Vernon, BC; Laura Rose O'Connor of Edmonton, and John David O'Connor of Istanbul, Turkey. John was very fond of his in-laws, the Mangione family of Ottawa, especially his mother-in-law, Lucy. John was born in Wainwright where he received his early education. He graduated from the University of Alberta (St. Joseph's College) B.Sc. (Agriculture) and from the University of Western Ontario with a Diploma in Business Administration. John was also a Pilot Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force for three summers while putting himself through university. In 1955, John took a job as a feed salesman with the Pioneer Feed Division of Purity Flour Mills in the Nova Scotia area. In 1956, he joined the Federal Government in Ottawa where he worked in the Department of Trade and Commerce. He was then seconded to the Embassy in Bonn, Germany where he worked from 1958 to 1962 facilitating Canada's agriculture trade interests with that country. His two older children were born in Germany during this time. In 1962, John and his young family returned to Ottawa, where WJ worked as an Officer with Industry of Trade and Commerce and then later as the General Director of the Grain Division. In 1981, John and his family moved to Winnipeg, where he took the position of Executive Director of the Canadian Grain Commission. He continued to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI), where he lectured and led training teams to Saudi Arabia and China. During his career, he worked very closely with the Canadian Wheat Board and private grain firms through which he and Teresa made many professional and personal friends. He enjoyed his membership with the Mousetrap Club. John retired in 1992 after over 35 years of public service in the Canadian grain industry. John lived life fully. He traveled extensively and was proud to be a Canadian. He enjoyed gardening, taking long hikes and canoe paddles around his cottage, on White Lake in the Whiteshell. He loved to talk politics with anyone and was hard to argue with. John was strong in his faith and devoted to his family in all that he did. He was proud of his children and his grandchildren, whom he honoured with his playfulness. He will be so greatly missed and our memories of him will be held close in our hearts. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Parish of St. Timothy, 135 John Forsyth Road, with Pastor Father Phil Daley. Reception to follow at the church. Entombment at Assumption Cemetery for family members only. Donations honouring John's life may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6, phone 949-2000 or 1-888-473-4636. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 455 LAGIMODIERE BLVD. 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 12, 2008