Thomas Gerald O’Connor went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 24, 2026. At the time of his peaceful death, he was surrounded by family members and was at the Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford. He lived to be 95 years old.

Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan to his beloved Irish parents John F. O’Connor and Winnifred “Winnie” O’Connor on October 1, 1931. He lived most of his childhood in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended the St. Therese grade school and St. Ignatius high school. His family moved to Illinois, and he attended the St. Ignatius high school in Chicago. He loved being a “wolf” from that school. His family moved ot Mount Morris, Illinois and attended high school for his senior year there where he excelled in track and football. He was drafted into the Army when he turned 18, which was during the time of the Korean war. At the end of basic training on the eve of being shipped out to Korea he ended up with a severe case of pneumonia. He was hospitalized for six months at the Walter Reed Hospital. He was then stationed in St. Louis after the hospitalization. He met and married Evelyn Hokanson from Cleveland, Ohio. They raised eight children together. He attended one year of college at NIU and played on the football team. Then he began an apprenticeship with Kable printing company in Mount Morris, Illinois. While employed there he worked his way to the position of plant superintendent. During his printing career he worked on most major magazines in the country and ended up as the regional quality control director for Life magazine. He enjoyed working in New York city at the Time Life building and made many friends there. He also worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After retiring from Time Life, Inc. he became a national consultant in printing and would go to printing plants across the country to train and improve the overall quality of printing at each plant he visited.

During his life he enjoyed baseball, golfing, skiing, swimming, sled riding, boating and ice skating. While playing baseball he decided he should join the NAACP and support so many players and friends he had made. Several times he made skating rinks in his own yard. He had many hobbies which included collecting teddy bears, model airplanes, antique coffee pots, magazines (of course!), photography, reading and more. He was a keen fan of poetry and loved reading it aloud. He was always busy. He loved watching the Chicago Cubs with his daughter Susan and watching the Lawrence Welk show. He was devoted to his Catholic faith and would happily talk to anyone about our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Rockford when he moved back to Illinois.

Thomas is predeceased by his parents, brothers Jack, Don and Robert O’Connor and his dear sister Patricia O’Brien, her husband Raymond O’Brien, brother in law James Lawlor, beloved sister Nancy Heinecke, infant son Douglas and nephew Terry O’Connor. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth “Lib” Lawlor his children Susan O’Connor, Thomas (Theresa) O’Connor, James O’Connor (Lori Gitchel), Louise Lima, Karen Gilbert, Margaret O’Connor, John (Deb) O’Connor, son in law Richard Heinecke, and grandchildren Sean O’Connor, Jack O’Connor, David (Lisa) O’Connor, Melissa Theodros, Dustin (Carmen) O’Connor, Ashley Kelleher, Jason (Sharla) Hoting, Jennifer Hoting, Brent Hoting, Kurt Gilbert, Scot Gilbert, Meaghan (Nick) Marsili, Robert (Mary) Heinecke, Jaimie Feathers, Blake Feathers, Madeleine O’Connor, Daniel O’Connor and Colin O’Connor in addition to beloved great grandchildren who loved him dearly and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Tom was a true family man and loved time together. He planned many exciting vacations for the family including one where the family lived on a boat on the Mississippi for two weeks. Tom would often say “Life is like a baseball game. You’re working your way through a series of innings. Each inning is a new and fresh start and anything can happen.” His attitude towards life was always positive and he was grateful for the life he was given. He always tried to encourage people he would meet. His favorite holiday was Christmas, and he carried the Christmas spirit in his heart always.

Visitation is to take place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. until the time of Rosary, around 7:00 p.m., at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. Visitation will continue on Monday, November 2, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral Mass, 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Road, Rockford, Illinois 61107. Burial to follow in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Oregon, Illinois. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com