Obituary of Henry James O'Connor

Henry James "Jim" O'Connor,83, passed away on December 23, 2014. Jim was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Richard and Artemesia (Gibson) O'Connor. After graduating from Whitewater City High, he attended Beloit College. It was during the summer of 1950 that Jim met Kathleen (Peg) Arnold, a freshman at Whitewater State Teachers College. The couple married in Madison on December 22, 1951. In February of 1952, Jim was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. After Basic Training and Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Following consecutive overseas tours, Jim attended flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Throughout his Army career, Jim was an Instructor Pilot of both light fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft. During his two combat tours of Vietnam, Jim flew UH-1 Hueys. The family was stationed at numerous military posts throughout the United States and overseas until Jim's retirement in 1968 at the rank of Major. Upon retirement the family moved back to Whitewater. Jim purchased The Strand, a local movie theater which he remodeled and renamed the Towne Theater. During his business career, he was elected president of the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the Whitewater Rotary Club he served as their Secretary/Treasurer for 22 years. Jim was also an active member of the American Legion, St. John's Masonic Lodge and Whitewater Congregational UCC. Between work and community service he and Peg enjoyed playing golf, cruises and sunsets in Hawaii. Jim is survived by his two sons- Mike (Rudy) and Pat (Karen); four grandchildren- Shawn (Tracy)O'Connor, Shanna O'Connor, Tom O'Connor, and Anna O'Connor; four great-grand children; his sister Dora "Pat" Platner, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Peg, his parents and his older brother. There will be a memorial service at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10am. Burial will be a private graveside service at Hillside Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are welcome to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Whitewater Congregational UCC. Private graveside services will be held at Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater, WI. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, WI is assisting the family.