Francis O'Connor

Francis Xavier O’Connor III, Frank, 74 of Centennial Colorado, passed away on July 18, 2021, from complications from diabetes.

Frank was born in Rockville Centre, NY on June 7, 1947, to Francis and Patrice O’Connor.  He graduated from St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, NY in 1965.  He earned an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts at Nassau Community College and then went on to study accounting at St. Francis University in Brooklyn, NY.  In 1970 after receiving his draft notice he enlisted in the United States Army.

His first deployment was to South Korea where he met his first wife for 35 years, Kim Song Ok.  They married on April 28, 1973, at St Anthony’s Church in Oceanside, NY.  Believing that the military would be more welcoming to his wife, Frank made the military his career.  Future deployments took them around the United States and Europe, from Pennsylvania, to Hawaii, Washington, Kansas, and Germany where he primarily worked in Personnel and Information Management.

After retiring from the US Army in 1990 Frank settled in Aurora, CO to be near his mother and sister’s family.  He continued working as a Corporate Personnel Manager and studied Business Management at the University of Maryland and the University of Phoenix.

After his first wife passed away, Frank was lucky to find another love.  He married Deborah Ettegener (nee Bond) on September 16, 2017, at the University of Denver’s Evans Chapel.

As an Eagle Scout, Frank always had a great love of the outdoors.  In particular, he loved hiking and bird watching.  He was a Colorado Parks and Wildlife volunteer at Castlewood Canyon State Park.  Other hobbies included stamp and coin collecting and celebrating his Irish heritage – kilt and all.

Frank was also a devoted son, brother, husband, stepfather, uncle and pet lover.  He is survived by his wife Deborah Ettenger and stepson Devon Ettenger of Centennial, CO; his sister Patrice Werner of Centennial, CO, niece Katherine Werner of Aurora, CO and nephew Matthew (Elyssa) Werner of Fredericksburg, VA; his brother Thomas (Andrea) O’Connor of Anacoco, LA; niece Tiffany Baker of Leesville, LA.; and last but not least, beloved rescue-dachshund, Gus.

Frank was incredibly kind and always put others first.  He rarely spoke about himself but was quick to brag about his family and friends to others.  He saw the best in others and he made an effort to encourage and “build-up” all he befriended.  He rarely complained especially when he was in pain because he said it didn’t help the pain and it just made everyone else feel bad.

A mass for Frank will be held at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church at 18000 E Arapahoe Rd, Centennial CO 80016 at 10:00 am on Monday August 16, 2021.  He will be interned at Fort Logan National Cemetery with military honors at 2:00 pm. Photo highlights of his life can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E30-9cMOO78

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Frank’s honor to one of the organizations he supported: Friends of Castlewood Canyon ( www.castlewoodfriends.org ); Denver Dumb Friends League ( www.ddfl.org ) or the American Diabetes Association ( https://www.diabetes.org ). Details can be found below.