Ed O'Connor

1946 - 2021

Lt. Colonel Edward W. O'Connor, 74, of Kersey, CO passed away June 19, 2021 in Greeley. He was born July 29, 1946 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa to Paul Lawrence and Irene Pearl (Campbell) O'Connor. Ed was a native of Ottumwa, Iowa where he was raised and was a graduate of Walsh Catholic High School (1964) and Northeast Missouri State College (1968). After graduating college, he enlisted in the Air Force in Macon, GA and fulfilled his dream of becoming a pilot in 1969. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and retired with a 21-year career from the Air Force in September 1989. After retiring from the Air Force, he went to work for Northwest/Delta Airlines, flying for another 20 years. He retired from Delta in 2009 and continued to fly his homebuilt RV-8 plane in air shows and other events in and around Colorado. Ed was a very accomplished pilot with over 18,000 flying hours and 500 combat hours. He was a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Renegades, held various positions in the local EAA Chapter 1117, helped facilitate The Young Eagles Program and The Learn to Fly Program and was also instrumental in coordinating the fly-overs for the Greeley Stampede, Kersey Days and LaSalle Days parades for the past ten years. Other organizations he was involved in are: Air Force Association (AFA); Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA); Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Quiet Birdmen; National Rifle Association (NRA) and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO). Ed also loved woodworking and was extremely talented, building many furniture pieces for his family. Thankful to have shared his life include his wife, Lisa O'Connor, children; Staci (Ron) King of Winder, GA, Ashley (Jeff) Gregg of Woodstock, GA, Danny (Taylor) Malpiede of Greeley, CO and Alecia Malpiede of Greeley, CO, grandchildren; Brandon (Keri) King, Paul (Sarah) King, Ticia King, Kelsey Gregg, Savannah Gregg and a great-grandson, Oakley King, former spouse Sandra Brown, all of GA, and siblings; Denis (Annie) O'Connor of CA, Jolene (Carl) Leier of OH, and Gary (Denise) O'Connor of IA, Ed's Life Celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2021 at the Greeley/Weld Airport Pavilion with a reception to follow. Private inurnment to be held at Linn Grove Cemetery. Please dress comfortably for the weather. Memorial gifts may be made to the local EAA Chapter 1117, in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.