Joseph “Joe” “Papa” O’Connell
Joe "Papa" O'Connell, retired USPS rural mail carrier, died Sunday, April 19, 2009 at his residence in Wellington, Kansas at the age of 87.
Joe was born the son of Jim and Maye (Burt) O'Connell on Tuesday, October 18, 1921 in Coldwater, Kansas.
He graduated from Belle Plaine High School with the Class of 1939. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart Eva Howe. On December 11, 1941, Joe and Eva were united in marriage in Wichita, Kansas. Together they celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage.
He joined the United States Army Air Corps during WWII. Joe served in 15th AF in Europe as a radio operator on the B24 for over 50 missions. He received several decorations including the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle. Joe's first child, Kathleen, was born on June 8th just as he was shipping to Italy. Following his discharge, he returned to Belle Plaine on his daughter's 1st birthday.
Joe went to work at the family filling station and welcomed his son, Mike, on August 9, 1946. Soon after, he began his career as a rural mail carrier and moved the young family to Cassville, Missouri. In 1953, the family moved to Conroe, Texas where his children received their schooling. The memories of Conroe remained special to Joe and his family as that’s where he accepted Jesus Christ into his life and changed the lives of his family. He was a deacon at Southside Baptist Church, Conroe, Texas for many years.
He later moved to Cherokee, Oklahoma for a few years before retiring in Wellington, Kansas in 1979. By his retirement age, Joe was a grandfather to 4 spoiled grandchildren. His son Mike passed away in 1988. His sweetheart and wife went to heaven in October of 2005.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Kimberly Kiker and brother Jim O'Connell.
Survivors include daughter Kathleen Dale and her husband Wayne of Mulvane, Kansas, grandchildren; Kevin Dale of San Francisco, California, Tammi Ward and her husband Jerry of Conroe, Texas and Chris O'Connell of Montgomery, Texas, great-grandchildren; Kylie Beggs, Joey Beggs, William Beggs, Tristan Simpson Beggs, Erin Beggs, Syndi Ward, Casey Ward, Tina O'Connell.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2009 with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Funeral services for Joe will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2009 in the chapel of Day Funeral Home, Wellington.
Interment will follow in Belle Plaine Cemetery, Belle Plaine, Kansas.
Memorials have been established in his name and loving memory with Hospice Care of Kansas or Belle Plaine Avenue of Flags. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home.
For further information or to leave condolences, please visit www.dayfuneralhome.info.
Arrangements are by Day Funeral Home & Crematory, Wellington, Kansas.
Wellington, Kan. —
