Frederick M. O'Connor

View a Video Memorial Frederick M. O’Connor, 82, of Galesburg, passed away at 4:35 p.m. Thursday, February 21, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born November 2, 1930 in Galesburg to Fred M. and Myrtle Rosenberg O’Connor. He married Joanne O’Connor on June 20, 1953 in Chillicothe, IL. She preceded him in death on April 3, 2009. He later married Judith Nolan on November 26, 2011. She survives. Frederick is also survived by four sons, Thomas F. (Jane) O’Connor of Wataga, Martin E. (Melissa) O’Connor of Round Hill, VA, Michael P. (Shannon) O’Connor of Austin, TX, and Brian C. (Sheila) of Dahinda; two daughters, Teresa M. Selin of Champaign, and Angela (Mike) Ingle of Allen, TX; two step-sons, Daniel F. (Laura) Nolan of Kewanee, and Stephen P. (Sunny) Nolan of Altona; as well as seventeen grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Joan Golick. Frederick graduated from Wataga High School and attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.  He worked for his entire lifetime as a self-employed farmer. He served his country during the Korean War with the United States Army from 1953-1955, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Frederick was also very involved in his community. He served as a long time trustee for St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Wataga, served on the Board of Directors for the Knox County Farm Bureau, was a Sparta Township Auditor, a member of the Wataga Lions Club, the American Angus Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Maple Leaf Antique Tractor Club, the Wataga Baseball Association, the Civil War Historical Society, and was a member of the Infamous Bridge Club. A funeral mass for Frederick will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 26 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Wataga. A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, February 25 with the rosary following at 8 pm. at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home in Galesburg. Memorials may be made to St. Aloysius Catholic Church or to the American Heart Association.