Gerald O'Connor
Gerald P. “Jiggs” O’Connor, age 94, of Bradley, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Presence Heritage Village Lodge in Kankakee.
Visitation will be held 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 10, 2017, at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home in Kankakee. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 11, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church in Irwin. Interment will follow at St. James Catholic Cemetery in Irwin.
Jiggs was born January 5, 1923 in Irwin, the son of William M. & Catherine Donovan O’Connor.
He married Arzella Ball in 1947 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. She preceded him in death in February of 1948.
In November of 1949, Jiggs married Rose Marie Beauchamp. She preceded him in death on May 28, 2005.
He retired from A.O. Smith after 38 years of service. He was a graduate of Herscher High School, where he had played football, basketball, and ran track.
Jiggs was a veteran of the United States Army; having served in the European Theatre of WWII, where he earned a Bronze Star.
He was a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bradley.
Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Patrick & Christa O’Connor of Bollingbrook; one daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne & William Craig of Kennebunk, Maine; four grandchildren, Michael & Lori O’Connor, Jeffery & Kim O’Connor, William Craig, and Colleen Craig; five great-grandchildren, Michael O’Connor, Grace O’Connor, Aidan O’Connor, Caris Craig, and Aliena Craig; and one great-great-grandson, Gavin O’Connor.
In addition to his wives, he is preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, James, Bernard, William, Alex, Frank, and Paul; and one sister, Mary Ducat.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.
