Erna I O'Connor

Dr. Erna Irene (Gravesen) O'Connor, r ecently of Pembroke Pines, Florida and formerly of DeKalb, Illinois, died on July15, 2010. Funeral services for Dr. O'Connor, 86, will be Saturday, July 31, 2010 at: the Dahl Van Hove Schoof Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, burial in Waterloo Cemetery. Erna was born on June 14, 1924 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Erna was the middle of three sisters and wife of the late Dr. Henry Arthur O'Connor.  Her parents both immigrated to the United States from Denmark. Living amongst many Danish relatives, Erna spoke a mix of Danish and English as a child.  She and her sisters attended the University School in Cedar Falls, Iowa as well as Danish Summer School in order to learn to read and write Danish as well as English.  The family owned and operated Gravesens Grocery in Cedar Falls where Erna learned first hand about marketing, management and business traits she would later apply as a teacher of Business, Marketing and Management. During her high school years Erna worked in the family business (Gravesens Grocery and Filling Station.) saving her money to take flying lessons and then to go to college.  In 1944, Erna served as Adjutant to the General, Women's Corps, Civil Air Patrol, Waterloo, Iowa.  She also was a part owner of an airplane.  After working in the family business Erna went on to be a Buyer at Blacks Department Store in Waterloo, Iowa.  After WWII Erna attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she met her future husband Henry "Art" O'Connor.  Graduating with a BS Degree in Mathematics & English they married on August 20, 1949, right after graduation. They moved to Columbia, Missouri where they worked on graduate degrees.  Erna received her Masters Degree in Business Education, from the University of Missouri, an Accounting Major with a certification in Counseling Psychology.  Erna received her Doctoral degree in Business Education from Northern Illinois University in which she was a Marketing Management and Finance Major. Dr. O'Connor's academic teaching career included: Instructor in Business, Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri; at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, as Instructor in Business and as a Student advisor.  Erna was Founder of the local Pi  Lambda Theta Chapter.  At Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois Dr. O'Connor was a consultant on Statistical Quality Control Implementation in Industry, she served as the Coordinator of the Marketing, Management and Finance Department and she was the Founder and Advisor for the Business and Industrial Management (BID) Center.  Dr. O'Connor was the Designer and Implementer of the Materials Management Program, the International Marketing Program and was Chairman of the Marketing and management Advisory Committee.  Dr. O'Connor also served as Auditor and as Director of the Student Financial Aid Office, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.  During her teaching career she was recognized as:  Outstanding Educator, Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois; as Outstanding College Teacher, DeKalb County Press, 1989;  Dr. O'Connor was recognized in Who's Who of American Women; by Outstanding Educators of America and The Directory of International Biography.  After retiring from teaching, Dr. O'Connor achieved great success in real estate as a broker in the commercial and residential market in Illinois.  Over a thirty year span she specialized in income and investment property and won awards including "Million Dollar Sales Award".  She was active in local community programs and was a long term supporter of the Ellwood House National Historic Museum where she volunteered as a tour guide.  Dr. O'Connor  authored numerous articles for business publications and Endowed the O'Connor Global Education Consortium, College of Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.  She established memorial funds at Northern Illinois University in the name of her late husband Henry "Art" O'Connor and her late father Christian Gravesen.  In 2005 Dr. O'Connor retired to Pembroke Pines, Florida where she continued to help out in the family business.  Generous to a fault she was known to always be the first to reach for the check "It's My Ticket."

Preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters and a twin brother who died at birth.  Dr. O'Connor is well remembered by former students, faculty and friends.  Erna is survived by two sons, Scott A. O'Connor of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Edward B. O'Connor of DeKalb, Illinois, two granddaughters Magen N. (O'Connor) Naret, Tampa, Florida, Alexis K. O'Connor, Tampa, Florida and one Great Grandson, Andrew D. Naret of Tampa, Florida.