Wayne M. O’Connor, 83, of Western Springs, passed away at Amita Hinsdale Hospital on March 6, 2020.
Wayne had been in Pipefitters Local 597 for 50 years and served as a field superintendent for Ideal Heating Co. located in Brookfield. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He was born in 1936 in Chicago to Virginia, nee Carls, and John “Jack” O’Connor. He attended St. Columbanus Catholic grade school and Chicago Vocational High School.
He volunteered his time to many local causes, including Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, The League of Women’s Voters and the Olympia Fields Park District. Mr. O’Connor served as a commissioner of the Olympia Fields Park Board and as a director of the Harbor Landing Condominium Association in New Buffalo, Mich.
He dedicated his life to being a loyal, trusted and committed servant and loved his relationships with key life mentors and colleagues, including Cook County commissioners, the late Dan and Ruby Ryan, the late Judge Dwight McKay and the late Ed W. Usher, former president of Ideal Heating. He was born and raised in the Greater Grand Crossing on Chicago’s South Side and never forgot where he came from. Wayne also enjoyed his family and friends at gatherings, boating and sharing rich, perspective-based discussions.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Roger and Gregory.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, nee Pletcher; his children, John (Kari) O’Connor and Elizabeth; his grandchildren, Gianna Maire, Rian Christopher, Shae Elisabeth, Meara Rose, Ava and Kevin O’Connor; and his brother, Dennis O’Connor.
A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday, March 13, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs.
Interment will be private.
Memorials may be made online to St. Columbanus Parish Donation Program, To Teach Who Christ Is (St. Columbanus), at https://www.stcolumbanus.org. Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
