Gael O'Connor

Gael was the epitome of the phrase " once a Marine, always a Marine"  He was very proud of that.  And proud of being a  Chicago Local 597 pipefitter.

He always had to be busy, so being a pipefitter was not only great for him, but ran in the family.  His great-uncle Pat Lyons, was in the trades as a fitter, as was his father John Francis and is oldest brother, John William. 

Gael attended the Washburn Trade School and was a journeyman pipefitter most of his life with local 597,  Patrick, our oldest, follows his Dad.

In 1977 he ran for and won a seat on the Mokena Board of Trustees.  He felt a duty to serve the community and make it better. 

In 1984 he had brain surgery for an aneurysm and was off work for almost a year the surgeons told him he would never go back to construction.  But being Irish and a marine, he did go back for another 19 years before retiring in 2002.

When guests came to visit us in Florida,, he loved to cook breakfast for them....eggs, sausage, hash browns, waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.  He loved it!! and was great at it! He turned 85 on 7/11 and we made 57 years of marriage on 7/13.  

He is survived by his wife, June (nee Compostella); his son, Patrick (Lore nee Leach), 3 grandsons; Jackson Riley, Sean Patrick and Brian Daniel; son, Michael; sister-in-laws Mary Braun and Dora May Billings; nephew, Steven (Jessica nee Larsen) and grandnieces Ivy and Sage. 

He will be sorely missed by all. 

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