William “Bill” K. O’Connor passed away May 26, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born on July 16, 1950, in Portage, Wisconsin, to Kenneth & Mary O’Connor. He spent his childhood living in Ludington, Michigan, Detour, Michigan, and finally moving to Pickford, Michigan in 1955. He was part of the famous “Dewey Street Gang” comprised of 50 plus kids that did everything from raft and treehouse construction, hiking up to “Bone Island”, playing games like tag, baseball, football, and anything else that they thought of. It was truly an adventurous childhood, and that is an understatement.
Bill attended Pickford Public Schools, and in high school, he played football, basketball, and ran track, but his true love was playing baseball. He was the only person that started a game pitching right-handed, and when his arm got tired, Web Morrison would come to the mount and tell the umpire he was making a pitching change. He brought Bill his left-handed glove and finished the game pitching left-handed.
Bill graduated from Pickford High School in 1969, received his draft notice and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1971. He was assigned to U-Tapao-RTN-AFB, in Thailand, and it was there that Bill was the recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and numerous other medals for his participation as a member of SAR team, responsible for the rescue of numerous airmen from downed aircraft during Operation Linebacker I & II.
He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1975, worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections, retired from MDOC, and was part owner of O’Connor’s CPD. In 2013, Bill retired and moved to Florida where he resided until his onset of Agent Orange related dementia, which ultimately led to his passing.
Bill is survived by his brothers; Richard “Duke” O’Connor, of Pickford, Michigan; Timothy O’Connor and sons, Zack, and Chance, of Rogers, Arkansas; Tom (Mary) O’Connor of Tuttle, Oklahoma, and children, Kenneth, Tom, Paul, Mark, and Katie; and Barry (Mary) O’Connor of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and children, Chelsey, Hailee, Owen, and Ryan.
Bill is preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Jr. in 1977; his father, Kenneth Sr. in 2006; and his brother, Daniel in 2023.
Funeral services will be held at Family Life Funeral Home in Pickford, Michigan on Friday, May 31, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, with burial immediately following services at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
