James O'Connor
March 28, 1932 ~ November 9, 2012
James F. 'Jim' O'Connor age 82 of New Hampton, Iowa died Friday, November 9, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton.
A Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 12, 2012, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. At Jim’s request, his body has been gifted to the University of Iowa.
Arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Online condolences for Jim's family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com
James Francis O’Connor was born March 28, 1930, in New Hampton, Iowa the oldest child of Chester and Lena (Krieger) O’Connor. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and was a 1948 graduate of the New Hampton High School. At a young age, Jim was active in all sports excelling in baseball, basketball and football while in high school. In 1948, Jim headed to South Bend, IN, to attend Notre Dame University. He graduated in 1952. In later years, he fondly recalled and told many stories about his time at Notre Dame. Following graduation he was inducted into the United States Army and served three years in Military Intelligence.
On June 17, 1957, at the Notre Dame Chapel, he married Jerri Hager. The couple made New Hampton their home where they raised their two sons, Michael and Patrick. Jim went to work in the family clothing store located on Main Street in New Hampton. The store, O’Connor Clothing had been a long time New Hampton business, originating in 1917. He operated the store until it’s closing in 1993. Many New Hampton residents have fond recollections of Jim's warm smile
and hearty laugh when shopping in his store.
His love of New Hampton and his story-telling abilities became even more apparent as he took a position at the New Hampton Newspaper first as a reporter and then as a columnist, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. Through his weekly column he kept us all abreast of our history and his personal reflections.
Jim had a life-long love to gamble. He loved waging bets on his card games, at the golf course and the dog and horse tracks. His high point was picking a ‘twin-trifecta’ at the dog track in 1988, winning him over $45,000. His love of sports remained with him throughout his life, having won the club championship at the New Hampton Golf and Country Club. He was also a life-long true blue Notre Dame fan. He was a very gentle care-taker for his wife, Jeri, in the last years of her life. Jeri died on October 22, 2001, at the age of 76. In 2006, Jim and his son, Michael took a very memorable week-long trip to Ireland.
He is survived by two sons, Michael (Victoria) O’Connor of San Antonio, TX and Patrick (Amy) O’Connor of Lee’s Summit, MO; three grandchildren, Michael Patrick O’Connor, Alec James O’Connor and Katrina Quinn O’Connor.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and a sister, Dorothy O’Connor.
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Here’s wishing all of you the sincerest of sympathies! Jim was an incredible man and I will always remember his laughter and stories. May God be with you all through this very difficult time. It is a very sad day in New Hampton as an icon and FANTASTIC man is now in his blessed home!
Jim has been a great neighbor, friend, and supporter for me and our family during my years in New Hampton. His laugh was infectious, and one of a kind that always put me in a good mood. He will be a loss to the New Hampton Community and to those of us who knew him. Rest in peace, Jim. Don Whalen
Our heartfelt condolensces to Jim’s family. What a great guy he was with such a warm smile and wonderful sense of humor. Never will forget that laugh. He had a positive outlook on life and loved his family and friends dearly. He knew dad very well and many yrs. the family purchased clothing from the store. Always knew just what to offer to make that perfect sale! We will miss his weekly columns. He educated many of us on the gool ol’ days. Always a special message, a chuckle or two, or a lesson to be learned. His charm and wit is what made him such a special guy. He truly was a fantastic man. Will miss not bumping into him in the grocery store or on the street and not seeing him on the front steps of the newspaper office with a wave of his hand. The town won’t be the same without him. May he rest in peace. Tom & Irene Frantzen
Ed and Zip….I’m very sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. He was truely a character who had no equal with his quick wit and stories that would make you want to stay up all night to listen on subjects such as the glory days of NH sports, pheasant hunting and men’s day golf. I remember the days of lifting weights in the basement of the store and the anticipation of a cold Strohs at the O’Connor residence or a trip to Alta Vista for pool and who knows what else. Remember what happend in AV stays in AV!!!! I think of your family often and will keep Jim and Jeri in my Sunday prayers Take Care, Rocky
To all of Jim’s family and friends….I never knew Jim growing up, but have gotten to know him in these later years. I loved his columns in the NH paper telling stories about days gone by. When I would occasionally meet him at the post office, I would ask him questions about some of these columns and he would so graciously share more info, more funny stories, more memories of days gone by. I especially loved talking about old baseball things with him. I also remember that my uncle from Illinois would only buy his bib overalls from him. He had the greatest smile, the greatest laugh, the greatest voice. He was one of New Hampton’s class acts and we will miss seeing him on the streets and visiting with him. Rest in Peace! Connie Straw
Pat, Mike and Family, So sorry to hear of your Father’s death. He was a man who cared for people with that Irish charm like few others I have known since High School. He passed that lesson on to his sons well. Thank you for caring. God bless you all. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Kathy Freidhof
To Jim’s Family… We were so saddened to learn of Jim’s death. He was such an iconic figure in New Hampton and will be sorely missed by everyone. Gary has such fond memories of working for Chetty and Jim at O’Connor’s and always has great stories to share with friends and family. They make us smile…just like Jim smiled whenever he greeted someone…whether at the store or out and about. Even though we didn’t see him often, Jim remained a lifelong friend of our family. He is probably arranging for Gary’s mother, Mabel, do some tailoring for him at this very moment! Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Jim was a great man! Gary and Jeanne Roths Surprise, AZ
Karen A. Schmitt lit a candle in memory of James F. O’Connor
My sympathy to the family of Jim O’Connor. He was the most cordial and funny sales clerk that I remember from my younger years. He made you feel welcome even in one came from Lawler! Jane Blazek
Ed & Zip, Sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I recall the tailgates and cookouts in NH with the guys from Quad 1st floor. Ron Hartman, Sumner
To all of Jim’s Family, My condolences to you for your loss, Jim was a good man. Growing up near New Hampton in the 1940’s and 50’s, most of the ‘store bought’ clothes my parents purchased for me came from Leuthold and O’Connor. I remember our trips to ‘Jim’s Store’, I thought he owned it even back then, and when we heard his voice and laughter as we entered it was assurance that we would be well served. Jim would carefully check each pair of jeans I tried on to make sure they fit and there was some ‘room to grow’ in them, and with each pair of shoes I tried on he would have me stand on the x-ray machine so he could see that there was enough room for my toes. It was the personal customer service that is not found in any store today. My Mother, Martha (Johnson) Peterson wrote a newspaper column for the Allison and Nashua papers that was similar to the one Jim wrote for New Hampton so they had a lot to talk about whenever they got together. Sadly now the last column from each of them has been written. This world will miss his laughter, and the stories he could tell about the history of New Hampton and the area. Roger D. Peterson Florida
Pat and Mike sorry about your dads passing I liked reading his articles pat I remember you helping my sister Kathy freidhof in school God bless you
Pat and Mike sorry about your death in your family my prays are going to you all and god bless you all.
Pat & Mike and families…you have our deepest sympathies. The mold was broken when one of my favorite characters and friend came along. I have felt connected to Jim over all these years starting when he came home from Notre Dame and I caddied in a group with Chetty, Jim and EP. Good times and fond memories continued on the golf course, various card games, the clothing store and the last two decades with his column in the NH paper. I always looked forward to seeing Jim, sharing memories and stories and of course his hearty laugh. Jim thank you for being Jim. You will be missed. Dan & Pat Fliger, Ankeny, Iowa
I always read Jim’s column first when opening up the newspaper because I knew it would make me laugh. I truly enjoyed reading his thoughts. My sympathy to Michael and Pat, spouses, and grandchildren. May we all live life to the fullest as it sounds like Jim did. Laura Schmitz
New Hampton has lost another Gem of a man, icon & historian. Jim was a very special person and I was lucky enough to have worked with him at the newspaper. His laughter and quick wit will always make me smile. I loved his stories. He will be truely missed. Your dad truely lived life to its fullest! Mike & Pat you have my deepest sympathy. He was so very proud of you & your families. He would just beam talking about you all.
Pat & Mike-You have my deepest sympathy for the passing of your dad. He was such a nice man. He always had a big smile & kind word for everyone. He will be truly missed by everyone. You and your familes are in my thoughts and prayers. Tammy (Tylee) McCauley
I’d have to say Jim was one of the luckiest people I’ve known. Not talking about his trips to see his ‘Indian friends,’ I think I’ve heard him state he usually left more wampum there than he took home. But he had a rich variety of friends – not only his older buddies that used to stop in at the office and visit, but many younger ones too. He had a job where he surely felt needed, and any time he felt like getting away, he had two families he could travel to where he would be welcomed with open arms. My condolences to Mike and Pat and families. It will be a quiet day at the office on Tuesday!
Jim will always be one of my favorite people I’ve worked with. My day was so much better when he walked into the newspaper office and I would hear him laugh. The impression he made on me will last a life time. My deepest sympathy to his family that he talked so fondly about. Ted Skidmore
Mike and Pat-My sincere sympathy in the loss of your father. He was one of a kind and I so enjoyed reading his column in the New Hampton Paper where his love of his family was always clear. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Julie (Randall) Nemmers, Spencer, Iowa
Jim was an original. A man who chose his own path in life and loved every step along the way. His love of New Hampton and Lawler showed in every one of his columns. And he loved the people of this area. We are all poorer with his passing.
Mike and Pat: Linda and I extend our sincere sympathy to you and your families. We will always cherish those memories of the gang meeting at the clothing store after high school. The constant banter and laughter that ensued whenever we huddled at the store will remain vivid forever. Your dad was a capital guy – and he passing away is a true loss to the New Hampton community.
When I returned to NH as a fellow ‘sons of businessmen’ member, Jim & I continued the family relationship our fathers enjoyed & laughed at many of their stories. With his fertile mind & quick wit, Jim was fun to be around & had many loyal friends. We never golfed together because Jim was much better than I, but I did manage to bring him down to my level in pool and we played together as partners for over 20 years. Jim could routinely make impossible pool shots, but he had real trouble with 3′ straight-in shots on the 8 ball, but we always got our fill of laughs. Jim was also a loving and dedicated husband and father. Together, they raised 2 sons they were rightfully very proud of. And when Gerry needed help, Jim spent years giving her the best care any dedicated & loving husband could provide. When Jim sold the store & was looking for something to keep him busy & his mind active, I hired him at the Tribune to write columns about local people & local history. His knowledge was vast & went way back with the help of his father, Chetty. Jim was a terrific local historian, but he was also able to add character and color to his commentaries that you seldom get in history books. Jim enjoyed his work & all the people he came in contact with. In turn, the public enjoyed his columns and Jim was pleasantly amazed at his following. When I left the Tribune, Jim bragged laughingly, ‘I even outlasted you, Feuling.’ New Hampton was a fun place to work and live thanks to people like Jim O’Connor. He will be missed, but not forgotten, like some of the Icons he wrote about. He’ll have to clean up some of the old stories on his new beat, however. Dan Feuling
Condolences to Jim’s family. He will surely be missed in the newspaper office. He was our in-house infomation source. ‘Hey, Jim, what year was the Elma tornado?’ ‘Jim who was the bandshell named for?’ ‘Do you know so-and-so?’ He could give dates, names and family trees off the top of his head. And he brought in donuts. Google does not do that. Ever.
Dear O’Connor family: Please accept our sincere sympathy on the sudden loss of your dad. He was certainly ‘one of a kind’ and was highly regarded in the community. Being about your dad’s age, and being in business in New Hampton through the past many years, I always enjoyed the many contacts that we had. We had a common interest in that we both served in the CIC during our military service. It just won’t seem right not to meet him periodically at the post office or by the newspaper office. We will miss reading about your families through his newspaper articles! Sincerely, Ben Ryan
Pat and Mike, We’re so sorry to hear of the news of your Dad passing.He was such a character! When my brother Bruce worked for him and Chetty he stuck me with a nickname-Stork- which he never let me forget.I’ll will always remember one Saturday afternoon I got to sub in a foursome with your Dad,Dale and Art. What an experience.I’m sure they will all have a few more rounds up there.God bless him.
Pat, Mike, & families, Our sincere sympathy and prayers to all of you. Jim was a great man and will be missed by many in the community. We will miss reading about all of his trips to visits his boys and grandchildren. I had many visits with your dad when he would bring tailoring to me if Mom was busy and after she passed away. May he rest in peace as he is now reunited with his beloved Jeri in their Heavenly Kingdom.
Pat and Mike. I was saddened to learn of the passing of your father. I thought very highly of him. I used to have such a great time the few times I got to play golf with Jim and Dale Gates. What a pair to spend a day with! Jim was a first class man and will be missed by who new him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. Jim Stewart
Pat and Mike. I was saddened to learn of the passing of your father. I thought very highly of him. I used to have such a great time the few times I got to play golf with Jim and Dale Gates. What a pair to spend a day with! Jim was a first class man and will be missed by who new him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. Jim Stewart