John H. O'Connell, Jr.

John O’Connell, beloved husband, father, brother, son, grandfather and decorated Marine, died peacefully surrounded by his four daughters on Saturday, August 6th, 2016. John was born in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 30, 1935 to John and Mildred O’Connell. After completing high school, John was eager to serve his country and joined the United States Marine Corps. As a Marine, he excelled in marksmanship, becoming a USMC record-holding sharpshooter. John became an USMC instructor, and was named to the USMC sharpshooting team. “Semper Fi” After leaving the military, John became a police officer, riding motorcycle for the California Highway Patrol. John left the police force when his young wife worried something tragic would happen, leaving her with five small children to raise. John took a job with the FMC Corporation as a mechanical engineer for several years before relocating his family to Eugene, Oregon. John opened a charter bus company in Eugene, Oregon. On his many Prevost buses, Oregonians traveled to Las Vegas and other tourist attractions. As an expert in Prevost buses along with his outstanding mechanical background, John was hired by bus conversion companies to assist in the building, construction and sale of million-dollar buses sold to musicians, celebrities, & athletes. Many NASCAR drivers became his clients. John’s 81 years of life took him from the deep south to the wild west. John retired in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Pat. John’s enthusiasm for cars, motorcycles and airplanes continued through his long and full life. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1987. Proudly, he flew his Beechcraft Bonanza to Alaska with his wife, Pat, to visit their Alaskan girls and their families. After losing his beloved Pat in 2010, John relocated to Alaska where he spent his last six years with his Alaskan family. John is survived by: son, John and his wife Anne O’Connell of Creswell, Oregon; daughters, Susan and her husband Bob Hansen, of Fresno, California, and Colleen O’Connell of Soldotna, Alaska, Kathy and her husband Ken Roser of Kenai, Alaska, and Kelly O’Connell of Fresno, California; twelve grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife and “Best Girl”, Patricia, both parents, and his only sister, Ruth. The family would like to thank the many people who cared for John during the past six years with a huge shout-out to Providence Transitional Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Funeral services were held at Our Lady of the Angles Catholic Church, Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, August 11, 2106, at 3:30 PM. Graveside services were held at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Oklahoma, 1:00 AM on Thursday, August 18, 2016.

John H. O'Connell, Jr.

May 30, 1935 - August 6, 2016