Francis "Frank" J. O'Connor

Francis was born at Selfridge Air Base in Mt. Clemens, MI to Edward J. and Rita N. (O'Brien) O'Connor. After the many moves his family made, and schools he attended as an Army brat, he graduated from St. Ambrose grade school in 1969, and Monsignor John R. Hackett High School in 1973 in Kalamazoo, MI. Frank joined the U.S. Navy in 1974, and served as a Yeoman aboard the U.S.S. Pawkatuck, U.S.S. Garcia and U.S.S. Saratoga. Following his service to our country, he worked in marketing for Michigan Bell in Kalamazoo, eventually returning to the classroom, obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and University of Illinois in Champaign. Frank never missed an opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the cities and countries in which he lived, worked or travelled. He often recalled the places he visited, but most important to him were the people he met along the way. No language barriers with Frank! Later, he worked as a transition manager in Washington D.C., helping military veterans find their place in the civilian work force to complement their skills and education. As a result of Frank's love for people, the O'Connor family on Mead Street in Kalamazoo had to wonder, just who would be joining our family for Christmas Eve each year. True to his love for our Catholic faith, Frank believed there are no strangers among us. Everyone everywhere mattered to him.

While he valued his many travels, time spent with family and friends were priceless to Frank, and there was the special little red-haired girl that he never completely lost touch with. On St. Patrick's Day in 2014, Francis James Anthony O'Connor was united in Holy Matrimony to his high school sweetheart, Judy Kay Olszewski, at St. Monica Church in Kalamazoo. Together they rekindled high school friendships, hosting warm & joyous reunions that have created happy and lasting memories for the class of 1973.

After living with Parkinson's Disease for the last 39 years, and participating in various studies in search of a cure, Frank did not ask, “why me”, but “why not me”? And if you know Frank very well, you also know that he united his sufferings to those of Our Lord, praying daily the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, in hopes that a cure will be found and others will be healed. We unite our prayers with his.

Francis James Anthony O'Connor is survived by just about everyone he crossed paths with, but since we are limited by space, here are those in the front seats:

His loving wife Judy, her sister Patty Melin & brother Michael (Liddy) Olszewski, his siblings Mary (Raymond) Waurio, Joseph (Susan) O'Connor, Colleen (Alan) Schmidtendorff, & Rosemary O'Connor.

Nieces and Nephews: Bridget (Corey) VanDam; Joseph (Kelley) Waurio; Meaghan (Emilio) O'Connor; Mark (Rebecca) Waurio; Erin O'Connor; Connor (Avery) Schmidtendorff; John Waurio & (Kate); Morgan Schmidtendorff & (Kevin); Thomas (Elizabeth) Waurio; Patrick O'Connor; John O'Connor; Cathlin (Sean) Carlson & Stephen Melin.

Great Nieces and Nephews: Robert VanDam; Monica, Andrew, Felicity, & Benjamin Waurio; Francis Schmidtendorff; and Emaline, Eliza and Conall Carlson.

Family and friends are invited to gather from 4 - 7 PM Monday, April 21, 2025, at Adams - Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, where a Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited at 7 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11 AM at St. Monica Catholic Church, 4408 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. A luncheon will be served in the St. Monica Hall following Mass. Interment will be Tuesday, April 22nd at 2 PM at Ft. Custer National Cemetery, 15501 Dickman Road, Augusta, MI 49012. Please arrive at the assembly area by 1:45 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, DAV.org.

Envelopes will also be available at the service.