Kelly O'Connor

KELLY O’CONNOR, Altoona, Iowa, died Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Select Specialty Hospital.

Kelly was born April 6, 1959, and is the son of Roberta and Terrence O’Connor. Services for Kelly will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Altoona Funeral Home with burial at Berwick Cemetery. A celebration of Kelly’s life will be held at Brightside Aleworks, Altoona following the burial from 4:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

He graduated from Southeast Polk in 1977 and Indian Hills Community College in February of 1980. After graduation he was employed by Digital Equipment Corp. (Hewlett Packard) as a hardware engineer. Tragically, July 19, 1980, Kelly was injured in a diving accident at Lake Ponderosa in Montezuma, Iowa and lived the remainder of his life as a quadriplegic.

Kelly loved cars and was an avid race fan. He spent many hours cruising Altoona in his wheelchair, hanging out at the “party circle”, and sunning himself in his special spots. He “drove” himself from Altoona to the fairgrounds to watch his brother-in-law race and the back highways to Mitchellville to visit his dad at the nursing home. He lived in his home alone the final eight years of his life. Above all, he did it his way.

Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, Roberta and Terry, grandparents Alice and Edward O’Connor and Lucia and Robert Anderson, Sr. He is survived by his brother Kevin O’Connor (Lori), sister Karen Thompson (John), niece and nephews Kendra O’Connor Hansen (Dan), Brian O’Connor, Nathan Thompson and Tylor Thompson (Jackie) and great-nieces and nephews Ollie, Ryleigh. Adi, Mavrik, Travis and Jerry.

Thanks to the many nurses who have cared for Kelly throughout the years. A special thanks to Mike Morrill who provided nursing care to Kelly for over 42 years and to his neighbor and friend Suzi Sand who was his guardian angel. She provided Kelly with meals, medical care and many hours of companionship. It sometimes takes a village and his village allowed Kelly to fulfill his desire to live at home and as independently as possible. Thanks to everyone who was part of his village.

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