We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Thomas Kenneth "Ken" O'Connell, CD (Ret'd), peacefully in his sleep in Halifax NS on 20 March 2024 at the age of 74 years.
Ken was born in New Waterford NS. He left Cape Breton as a young man to join the Canadian Forces and soon found himself travelling by train to Calgary AB for his recruit training as an Infantryman with 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
Ken deployed with the battalion on his first peacekeeping tour to Cyprus in 1968. The following year, he was posted to 3 Mech Commando in Souest, Germany and was with them until the base closed. He then moved to Canadian Forces Base Baden with the 3rd battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). Ken left Germany in 1972 to join 2 RCR at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and had his second peacekeeping tour in Cyprus with the unit (Nov 1973 - Apr 1974). In 1978, Ken was posted back to Baden, Germany with 3 RCR.
Ken joined the Canadian Military Engineers in 1981 when he re-mustered to the Structures Technician trade. He was posted to CFB Kingston with the Base Construction Engineering Section after completing his Trade Qualification Level 3 training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.
The following summer, Ken was attach-posted to 1 Construction Engineering Unit (CEU) in Canadian Forces Station Alert for Phase 1 of the Headquarters, Administration and Personal Services (HAPS) building. This was a great experience where he learned what it meant to be a Struct Tech. There was not much carpentry work but a lot of steel .. and much of the work involved jackhammering the permafrost for the building's footings.
In 1987, Ken was posted to the Wing Construction Engineering Section at CFB Winnipeg. The following year, he moved to 1 CEU on CFB in Winnipeg. In 1991, he was posted to the Naval Construction Troop at CFB Halifax.
Ken retired from the Canadian Forces after a lengthy illness in 1997 and remained in the Halifax area. During his retirement, Ken loved to travel and enjoyed many cruises and trips south in the winter with friends and family. He loved to golf in the summer and spent time in the winter watching his grandkids play hockey. Ken was also a season ticket holder for the Halifax Mooseheads and would never miss a game.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, at J.A. Snow Funeral Home {339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS}. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home . In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Last Post Fund.
