Joseph A. O'Connell Sr.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday March 14, 2012 in the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907 with Father Gerard Schreck officiating. The family will receive family and friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. O’Connell was born October 13, 1913 in Taftville, Connecticut, but had been a resident of Columbus for more than fifty years. A retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the United States Army, O’Connell had a distinguished military career. He was a veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Viet Nam war. After retiring from the military, he opened up a successful family business, O’Connell’s Coins and Novelties, in Columbus, a business now operated and managed by his son.

Mr. O’Connell was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Happily married for 55 years, Mr. O’Connell is preceded in death by his wife, Merance P. O’Connell, his parents, Thomas and Isabelle O’Connell of Connecticut, and by nine siblings.

He is survived by his three children: Maureen Mergler (Wayne) of Anchorage, Alaska, Sheila McAlister (James) of Valdosta, Georgia, and Joseph A. O’Connell, Jr. (Norma) of Midland, Georgia, and by seven grandchildren: Joanna Mergler Mayer of Anchorage, Alaska, Robert McAlister of Atlanta, Georgia, Heather Mergler Emerson of Anchorage, Alaska, Patricia McAlister May of Valdosta, Georgia, Tina O’Connell of Panama City, Florida, Woody O’Connell of Midland, Georgia and Seth Mergler of Anchorage, Alaska, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

The family suggests that any donations be made to St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2000 Kay Circle, Columbus, Georgia 31907.