Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....O'Connor, Rex Patrick 2007
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net September 1, 2010, 8:27 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Thursday, November 15, 2007


Rex Patrick O'Connor, age 81, was called to his heavenly home on Tuesday, Nov. 
13, 2007.

Born on March 16, 1926, to Peter J. and Lottie E. (Capwell) O'Connor, Rex 
lived nearly all his life in Ionia, Mich. He attended SS. Peter and Paul 
School and High School, graduating in 1944. Following graduation, Rex enlisted 
in the Army Air Corps which he remained a part of through 1946. He attended 
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., and went on to receive his law degree 
from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1951. He then practiced law in 
the community of Ionia for 56 years. The highlight of Rex's legal career 
occurred on Oct. 13, 1999 when he was admitted to practice before the Supreme 
Court of the United States.

Community activities were an important part of Rex's life, and he dedicated a 
large portion of time to giving back. He truly believed that you should thank 
the Good Lord every day for what you have been given, and always be kind to 
those who are less fortunate. Some of Rex's positions included Commander of 
the Ionia American Legion Post, President of the Ionia Rotary Club, President 
of the Ionia Country Club, Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a 
founder of the Ionia Community Chest, Chairman of the fundraising drive for 
the Ionia Boy Scouts (Rex was an Eagle Scout), member of the Ionia City 
Charter Revision Committee, President of the Ionia County Memorial Hospital 
Building Authority, President of the Ionia Industrial Fund, President of the 
Ionia-Montcalm Bar Association, and a member of the Attorney Discipline Board. 
He also served on the Board of Independent Bank for 38 years and was on the 
Board of Directors of Extruded Aluminum Corporation at the time of his death. 
As an active member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Ionia, he had the pleasure 
of serving on the first parish council. Rex and Mary also spent time in St. 
Petersburg, Florida where they are members of Blessed Trinity Parish.

Rex is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Evelyn (Bouvier), the true love 
of his life, three children, Peter Joseph, Rex Patrick, Jr. (Kimberly) and 
Mary Bouvier and three wonderful granddaughters, Maren, Madison and Hadley. He 
is also survived by sixteen nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and 
nephews. Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Lottie O'Connor, 
his sister Honora O'Connor, brother John O'Connor, sister-in-law Mary 
O'Connor, niece Jo Ellen O'Connor and three beloved members of the Bouvier 
family, Marshal Raymond and Myrtle Evelyn (Goodman) Bouvier and Raymond 
Francis Bouvier.

We will gather to celebrate Rex's life this Friday and Saturday. The details 
are as follows. Irish wake at the O'Connor Home, 320 Union Street, Ionia Mich. 
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 with a Rosary service 
at 6 p.m. at their home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at church. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. at 
SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 434 High St., Ionia, Rev. Melvin E. Fox, 
presiding. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, 
the O'Connor family requests that contributions be made to the University of 
Notre Dame Law School care of the Rex P. O'Connor Fund, Attn: Tom Blum, 100 
Bronson Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556. Arrangements are being handled by O'Brien-
Eggebeen-Gerst.



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