John W. "Bill" O'Connell

February 24, 1943 - December 8, 2018

John William “Bill” O’Connell, 75, of Ottawa Hills, died Saturday, December 8, 2018, at his home. He is survived by his loved wife of 52 years, Donna (Welch) O’Connell; daughter, Colleen and son, Clay (Erin) both of Toledo, OH, grandchildren, Allison, Emily and David Kwasniak, III, and Jordan, Daniel, Jackson, and Charles O’Connell and great-granddaughter, Kylie Ann. He is also survived by siblings, Julia Theil of Mason, OH, Martin F. (Vanessa), of Toledo, and Eileen (Larry) Anning of Perrysburg, OH, along with brothers-in-law, Dr. Thomas G. (Corrine) Welch MD, Dr. Harold V. (Lois) Welch, Jr. DDS, and sisters-in-law, Colleen Morrissey and Kathy O’Connell and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret O’Connell, brother, Michael and sister, Mary Anne Nopper. Born and raised in Darby, in South Toledo, he graduated from St. Francis De Sales High School, Toledo, and received both his bachelor degree and an MBA in healthcare administration, from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. After serving as an Army lieutenant at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, DC, he then began a career in Catholic healthcare administration which he concluded by serving as the first President and CEO of Franciscan Services Corporation, the health system sponsored by the Sylvania Franciscans, a position he held for 26 years. John retired 2010. A longtime member of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, he was an active participant in its Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration program, since its inception in 1986. He was a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. His Career also included serving as a director of First Initiatives Insurance, Ltd. (FIIL), domiciled in Grand Cayman, BWI, and as a director and chairperson of Preferred Professional Insurance Company (PPIC), Omaha, NB. Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday from 3-8 p.m., in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, (between Secor and Douglas Roads), where a scripture service/rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Prayers will begin at 10:45 a.m. Friday, from the funeral home followed by the funeral mass at 11:30 a.m. at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, (2240 Castlewood Drive at Bellevue Road). Father Michael Geiger will officiate. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, where Lambertville VFW will conduct military honors. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Francis De Sales High School, 2323 W. Bancroft, Toledo, OH, 43607 or Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (Outreach program), 4227 Bellevue Road, Toledo, OH 43613. Contributions may also be sent to Jameson & Sons Distillery, Dublin, Ireland, to help offset their loss of revenue.