Submitted by: Dan Rich

Russell O'Connor

Feb. 20, 1908 - Jan. 18, 2003

South Bend Tribune 1/22/2003

Russell O'Connor, 94, of Sarina's Retirement Home, Lake Geneva, Wis., passed away at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, in Lakeland Hospital, Elkhorn, Wis. Russell was an educator, teaching for 17 years in the South Bend College of Commerce and the University of Notre Dame. He retired from the South Bend School Corporation after 20 years of teaching. Russell was born on Feb. 20, 1908, in South Bend, Ind., to the late Charles Henry and Ellen Jane (Borror) O'Connor. He had lived in Lake Geneva since 1996. He had also lived in Bradenton, Fla., from 1981 to 1994.

On Nov. 26, 1930, in South Bend, he married the former Gladys Treesh, who preceded him in death on July 22, 1996. He was also preceded in death by a son, Patrick O'Connor in 1950. He is survived by two daughters, Karen Knight of Albuquerque, N.M., and Linda (Skip) Vaszari of Spring Grove, Ill.; and by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. O'Connor was a member of the DeMolay, Order of Eastern Star, North Liberty, Ind., and was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, North Liberty, where he served as past master. He was a former member of the River Park, North Liberty and the Harris Prairie Church of Christ. He was a member of the West Side Christian Church in Bradenton, Fla. Mr. O'Connor was also a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association, a graduate of Louisiana State University, earned his master's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., and received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, in the North Liberty Church of Christ. Rev. Andy Kaser will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Eastlawn Cemetery, North Liberty. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, in the Palmer Funeral Home, 314 S. Michigan Street, Lakeville, Ind., where Masonic services will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Russell O'Connor may be made to the North Liberty Church of Christ, 65225 State Road 23, North Liberty, IN 46554.