William "Bill" J. O'Connor

William J. “Bill” O’Connor, age 81 of Manitowoc passed away Monday, September 5, 2023, at Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Medical Center.

Bill was born on February 7, 1942, in Manitowoc, son of the late Francis and Verona (Kaufman) O’Connor. He grew up in Manitowoc and was a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School with the class of 1960. Bill served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam Era from 1966- 1968. On June 23, 1979, Bill married the former Vickie L. Zipperer at Holy Innocents Catholic Church in Manitowoc. He worked for the Manitowoc Public School District for 40 years, retiring in 2010. Bill enjoyed camping, Polka and Country music, and NASCAR racing. He was a financial donor to the Salvation Army for many years. In the past, Bill enjoyed driving semi for local pigeon racing clubs.

Survivors include his wife: Vickie O’Connor, Manitowoc; three children: Kristin (J. Douglas) Odell, Manitowoc, Casey (Becky) O’Connor, Manitowoc, Carrie O’Connor, Manitowoc and her significant other George Coronado; five grandchildren: Grace, Josie, and Nora Odell; Brooke and Caden O’Connor; one brother and sister-in-law: John (Sally) O’Connor, Hutchinson, KS; two sisters: Carol Lanich, Tomah, Kathleen Byland, Peoria, IL; six brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law: Glenn (Karen) Zipperer, Fond du Lac, Dale Zipperer, Manitowoc, Gary (Tori) Zipperer, Manitowoc, Joy (John) Ruzek, Manitowoc, Cindy (Todd) Schneider, Manitowoc, and Tom (Judy) Zipperer, Manitowoc. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends survive. He was preceded in death by his parents: Francis and Verona O’Connor; one son-in-law: Jeremiah Oestreich; two brothers-in-law: Frank Lanich and Randall Byland; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Clarence and Donna Zipperer.

Funeral Services will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at the Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Home, 818 State St., Manitowoc. Pastor Jed Manders will officiate with burial at Evergreen Cemetery with the Vietnam Veterans Chapter # 731 providing military honors. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4:00 PM until the time of services at 7:00 PM.

The Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Home location is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com

The family would like to send a special thank you to all the caregivers and staff at St. Mary’s Home- Felician Village for all their loving care shown to Bill and his family, especially Peyton, Tina, and Heidi.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William "Bill" J. O'Connor, please visit our floral store.