Eugene O'Connell

May 29, 1926 - November 3, 2015

Eugene O'Connell, 89, of Lake Villa, IL passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. He was born in Erie, IL on May 29, 1926, the son of the late Walter and Irene O'Connell. Eugene graduated high school in 1944 and soon joined the Naval Reserve. He was later inducted into the United States Army and served during World War II in Germany. After the war, Eugene went to California where he attended technical school and worked as a Master Aviation Mechanic. He moved back to Illinois where he worked as a carpenter for many years, retiring in 1988. Eugene built his own airplane and earned his pilot's license in 1983. He enjoyed woodworking, NASCAR, building model cars and airplanes, and gardening. He will be missed by his two cats Ladybird and Misty. He is survived by his daughters Debra O'Connell and Dawn O'Connell; grandchildren Marc Cozza, Shana Cozza, Heather Moebus, and Michelle (Rob) Ditchen; and by his great grandchildren Elysia, Layla, Carley, Kayden, Lydia, and Sadie. He was preceded in death by his daughter Karen Cozza and by his brother Robert O'Connell. Memorial visitation will be from 1 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Ringa Funeral Home, 122 S. Milwaukee Ave. Lake Villa, IL 60046. A memorial celebration will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Interment of the cremated remains will take place privately at a later date. Flowers are accepted or consider a contribution in Eugene's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project (http://bit.ly/1bZg87t).