Obituary of Mike O'Connor

June 28, 1955 – July 30, 2021 

A life well lived.  So often said, and yet truer words were never spoken than about Mike O’Connor. 

Mike lived his life with enthusiasm, laughter, love, kindness and generosity.

Son of Geraldine and Robert O’Connor, Mike was born and raised in Calgary.  He loved his community, and spent much of his life working to make it a better place. He proudly served the citizens of Calgary as a member of the Calgary Police Service for 29 years, most of his time spent in the Traffic section and on the Mounted Patrol. 

Mike’s service to his community included volunteering, spending many years with Ducks Unlimited. He was incredibly proud of his 37 years volunteering for the Calgary Stampede.  He loved the sport of rodeo, and as a member of the Rodeo Committee, he was rodeo’s greatest ambassador.  He worked hard to promote the sport and its athletes, and of course made lifelong friends along the way. Nothing could keep him from the Stampede this year, and fighting with the sheer grit and determination that carried him through his brave battle with cancer, he made it there, spending some of his last days exactly where he wanted to be - with his Stampede and rodeo family. 

And he was Wine Guy Mike - a lover and supporter of all things food and wine, beloved by the food and wine industry in Calgary, and around the world.

For Mike, life was meant to be lived to the fullest. With his wife Sandy, he travelled the world, adventure and food always a part of the trip. He skied, working for an epic winter at Alta Ski Resort in his youth. He loved to scuba dive and ride his motorcycles and his horses. His hunting skills were legendary, and he was only too happy to share his harvest and his knowledge. 

Mike made friends wherever he went, usually the first introductions characterized by his great big smile and his cowboy hat. Mike was a fiercely loyal friend, always there for you, and making sure you were part of his adventures and having “tubs of fun”.

Perhaps most importantly, Mike was about his family. It was simple, but it was everything - he loved his family with all he had, and his proudest roles were as husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. 

For Mike, life was a grand adventure meant to be shared with the ones he loved. He did just that.

Mike was much loved by his family; his wife Sandy; son Sean O’Connor (Trudy); daughter Erin Grauer (Ray) and granddaughters Isla and Avery; brother Pat O’Connor (Barb) and nieces Katie (Chris) and Ali (Romain); sister Maureen Ord (Murray) and nieces Robyn and Sarah; sister Auntie Kath; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Cathy and Russ Humphreys, and niece Krista.

A Celebration of Life for Mike, will be held at The Big Four Roadhouse, Stampede Park (1801 Big Four Trail SE, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Formal portion of the celebration begins at 4:30 p.m.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Stampede Foundation https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/4426/donation or the Canadian Cancer Society, email donorservices@cancer.ab.ca.

In living memory of Mike O’Connor, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th STREET SE, CALGARY, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.