LAWRENCE (LJ) O'CONNOR

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LAWRENCE (LJ) O'CONNOR

It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of Lawrence (LJ) O'Connor, 83 years old, on November 5, 2022. He died comfortably and peacefully early Saturday morning at home in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, with family by his side.
He was predeceased by his parents, Francis (Tiny) (1975) and Claudine (2009) O'Connor, sister Kathleen Richkun (2017), brother Doug O'Connor (2015) and sister Geraldine (Tootsie) Kinnonen (2010).
He is survived by his three beloved children, Laurie-Ann O'Connor of Venice, Florida, Tim O'Connor of Dalton, Georgia, and Chris O'Connor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. His five grandsons will also miss him: Jeremy Sherby of Houston, Texas, Keifer O'Connor of Woodstock, Ontario, Tierin O'Connor of Ingersoll, Ontario, and Finnegan and Rogue O'Connor of Dalton, Georgia. He is also survived by his brother, Pat O'Connor (Janet) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and numerous nieces and nephews throughout Canada and the United States. Ms Tiles, the lovely little feline who spent every day with him in the last few years, is also missing him. During the COVID years, there were many days he said, "I don't know what I would have done without her." He was a man who enjoyed an audience and never lacked a story to share or an idea to explore.
As all those who knew him would agree, he died much the way he lived...on his own terms. He was born in Dunrae, Manitoba, on June 9, 1939 but grew up in Creighton Mine, Ontario, the place that was his 'home' before he ventured off to the wildly varied and successful life he enjoyed. LJ was a true entrepreneur, an inventor, and a renegade capitalist. His jobs ranged from the early days of making deliveries in Creighton Mine to mining in Thompson, Manitoba. He moved into the wire and cable industry and later into converting and manufacturing and never looked back. He was most well-known for establishing Kable Tapes, Ltd., which later evolved into KT Industries. He was a brilliant man who could see opportunity and possibilities in a wide range of areas.
He valued travelling, spending time with family, tinkering with everything, landscaping, and then relandscaping every property he had. In his later years, he particularly enjoyed his flight simulator for hours and would often call or text when he was "flying over" one of us. He was fortunate to have been able to visit most of the countries he ever wanted. Even with his extensive travels, his favourite place was always at the family cottage on Woodchuck Bay, Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada.
The family would like to acknowledge Heartline Hospice for their brief but welcome assistance in addition to the ICU and PCU staff at Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA (with special kudos to Craig in Respiratory for piecing together a system that worked for Dad). He would have truly appreciated that one-of-a-kind mask that worked brilliantly. It, indeed, was in the spirit of how he lived.
As he requested, cremation occurred with Leaf Cremations of Acworth, GA. Plans for a memorial service (with remote access) are pending. If you would like to receive information regarding the service, please email LJOConnor2022@gmail.com, and we will forward details as soon as they are available.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 18, 2022