Joseph O'Connell Obituary

Joseph "Joe" Cecil O'Connell, aged 79, residing in Longmont, CO passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 4, 2023. Joe was born on December 17, 1943 to Joseph and Dorothy O'Connell in Washington, DC. After graduating from Archbishop Carroll High School he attended the University of Maryland before enlisting in the United States Army where he served for 2 years. In 1970, Joe met Donna Jones from Salisbury, MD. They married on July 8, 1972 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer. Joe retired from a career in Maryland working for Montgomery County and bought a house with Donna in Longmont, CO in 2005. Around Longmont, they lived near the golf course where Joe would frequent and try to improve his par. He loved golf and could be found near the course even if he wasn't playing. Joe and Donna would frequent many of the local establishments watching sports and getting to know all the staff. The patrons and employees would always be seeking out Joe during Super Bowl time, March Madness, and any other big sporting event. His grandchildren, who knew him as Pops, were his shining light and his eyes lit up when you talked about things they did in school, a soccer game, baseball game, gymnastics meet or swim meet. Pops was so proud of his crew and he made sure everyone knew this. Joe is survived by his wife Donna and his 2 children: Kelly O'Connell Stroker (husband Joe Stroker) of Niwot, CO, Michael O'Connell (wife Lindsay O'Connell) of Hagerstown, MD, and 4 grandchildren: Kyla Stroker (17), Mira Stroker (13), Camden O'Connell (12), and Declan O'Connell (6). Joe is also survived by his brothers Paul and Jim O'Connell and sister Sue Maier and is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Dorothy O'Connell, Greg Maier (brother-in-law) and Donna's parents Wilmer and Kathleen Jones. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for the O'Connell and Stroker families.