O'CONNELL, Michael J. September 20, 2008 age 90 Beloved husband of the late Carolyn. Dear father of Patricia, Rita, Michael and the late Kathleen. Loving grandfather of Lisa, Kelly and Jennifer. Great grandfather of A.J., Michael and Christopher. Brother of the late Richard, Anna Welch, Delia Gillis, Theresa Gibbons, William and John. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mike hired into the Motor Building at Ford Motor Company in 1936. He served as a volunteer UAW organizer, and also as a steward in Dept. 128 Axle Building before the first UAW contract. From 1942 until 1944, he was an elected Committeeman in the Aircraft Building. He served in the Armed Forces from 1944-1946. He was elected to the Bargaining Committee of the National Parts Depot in 1948 and 1949. Mike was first elected president of the Parts Depot in 1950 and again in 1951. He also served as chairman of the Local 600 Membership Complaints, Suggestions and Resolutions Committee from 1950 through 1951. He was appointed as a UAW International Representative in 1952 until he was laid off in 1961. As an International Representative, Mike served as a bodyguard to our late President Walter Reuther, and also worked as an organizer on the east coast. In 1961, and again in 1962, he was elected to the Bargaining Committee of the National Parts Depot. He was elected president of the Parts Depot Unit in1963 and served in that capacity until 1973. Mike was re-appointed to the staff of the International Union in January, 1974, and assigned to the Retired and Older Workers Department. His assignments included servicing Region 1E and Region 1A, in addition to being our National Legislative Representative, working with our State-Wide Coordinating Committee consisting of the retiree leadership from the six Michigan regions, coordinating the Annual Retiree Trip to Boblo Island we sometimes referred to him as Admiral of the Fleet, and serving as a member of the Executive Board of the National Council of Senior Citizens. He also served as Staff Council Representative for the Retired Workers and Community Services Departments. Upon his retirement, Mike was elected Vice President of the Local 600 Retiree Chapter. Soon after, he assumed the office of president, upon the death of the then current Local 600 Retiree Chapter president, where he had been re-elected in every election. He also served in the following capacities: Lifetime member of the National Council of Senior Citizens; Served on the General Board of the N.C.S.C.; Served on the Wayne County Citizens Advisory Board and the Dearborn Senior Commission appointed by the late Mayor Michael Guido; Was appointed to the Executive Committee of the UAW Michigan CAP Council and served on the Executive Board of the Michigan UAW CAP Council; Executive Board Member of the 16th District Democratic Party, and Executive Board Member of the Dearborn Democratic Club; Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Region 1A Retired Workers; Democratic Precinct Delegate for the past 37 years. He was elected to represent Region 1A on the International UAW Retired Workers Advisory Council; Vice President of the UAW International Advisory Council; Served as an usher for many decades at Divine Child Catholic Church in Dearborn. Michael was the last survivor of the "Battle of the Overpass" which occurred on June 20, 1941 under the legendary Gate 4 Overpass at the Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant. Also, Michael was awarded the Golden Glove in Detroit by Joe Louis for the most promising upcoming boxer in 1937. Funeral Mass Thursday 9:30am from the Church of the Divine Child, 1055 N. Silvery Lane, Dearborn. Instate from 9 am. Visitation Tuesday 5-9 pm and Wednesday 12-9 pm with Rosary at 7 pm from the Dearborn Chapel of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, 22546 Michigan Ave. Burial Our Lady of Hope Cemetery. Share your memories with the O'Connell family at howepeterson.com.