Michael Douglas O'Connor

Michael Douglas O'Connor, age 79, of Long Beach, CA, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2013 at home, surrounded by his loving family and close friends.

Michael, the son of Elsie (née Daniels) and James Joseph O'Connor, was born May 17, 1934 in Belmond, Iowa. He graduated from Belmond High School in 1952. On October 10, 1953, Michael married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Ruth O'Connor (née Benson), of Alexander, Iowa. After marriage, the couple resided in Des Moines, Iowa prior to moving to California in 1957. Together they had two daughters. They recently celebrated sixty years of marriage. Michael was a devoted husband and loving father.

He graduated from x-ray school at the Iowa Lutheran School of Radiology and began his career as an x-ray technologist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines while working simultaneously at Solar Aircraft in Des Moines for a short time. Upon arrival in California, he took a position at Broadway Hospital in Los Angeles, where he was promoted to chief x-ray technologist and worked for over twenty-five years. He also worked at Los Alamitos Hospital and as a mobile x-ray tech before he retired.

During his life, Michael was a member of the Cypress Twirlers Square Dance Club and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He loved golfing, hunting, watching westerns and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was also an avid reader and traveled extensively with his wife, with whom he visited thirteen countries and enjoyed many trips across the United States in their RV.

In addition to his wife, Michael is survived by his brother, Robert of Stockbridge, GA; two daughters, Debralee (O'Connor) Kohr of Orinda, CA and Michele Lynn (O'Connor) DeLapp of Westminster, CA; and four grandchildren, Brianna Kohr, Bridget DeLapp, Aidan Kohr, and Ciara Kohr.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father as well as his brother, Malcom "Mally" O'Connor and sister, Constance "Coni" (O'Connor) Stetson.

A visitation will be held from 5pm-9pm on October 29th at Forest Lawn in Cypress, CA, and a funeral service will be held at 11am on October 30th at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Garden Grove, CA.