Jack O’Connor

Jack Dean O’Connor was born Oct. 29, 1938, in Custer, S.D., to Floyd “Mickey” O’Connor and Ruth Graham O’Connor. He attended school in Custer, graduating from Custer High School in 1956. He later attended and graduated from Black Hills Teachers’ College (now Black Hills State University) in 1960 with a B.S. in business education.
He married Joyce Elaine Newberg, also of Custer,  June 26, 1960. Jack taught business courses at Custer High School from 1961-75, while also working weekends and summers at the family-owned O’Connor Lumber Company. He later worked at Black Hills Electric Cooperative and the State of South Dakota Youth Forestry Camp in Custer. He retired in 1998.
Jack was a dedicated member of the Custer Volunteer Fire Department for many years and was an avid Custer Wildcats fan, keeping books for the basketball team and serving on the football chain gang.
His hobbies — many of which were shared with his grandchildren, who lovingly called him “Papa Jack” — included hunting, eating breakfast with the locals, driving through his beloved Black Hills, frequenting garage sales, playing with his hobby trains, spending time in his workshop sifting through his many treasures and woodworking.
Jack  passed away peacefully at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., Jan. 10, 2024. He was 85.
Preceding Jack in death were his parents; brothers, Floyd, Glen and Gerald; and sister, Carol.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce; sisters, Pat Spargur and Joyce Hamilton; daughters, Lynnette (Perry) Rockvam and Deanna (David) Emery; grandchildren, Joshua, Katie (Todd), Lindsay (Taylor), Brandon, and Ryan; great grandsons Myles, Mason and Brooks; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.
Funeral services are 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.  
Memorials may be sent to the Custer Volunteer Fire Department or Custer Care and Rehab Center.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.