Michael Louis O’Connell

Michael L. O'Connell, husband of 62 years to Elin (née Tingley) O'Connell and son of James (Sr.) and Virginia (née Hargous) O'Connell, has passed from this life after an extended battle with Parkinson's disease.

Mike is survived by his wife, Elin; their sons, Ken and Frank along with their spouses Diane and Debbie; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ryan, Tyler and Kylie; and great grandchildren Amelia, Madison, Lila and Claire.

Mike was a lifelong resident of the Santa Clara valley, growing up and working on the family ranch on Pacheco Pass. He graduated from Gilroy High School where he was Student Body President, while also holding the offices of FFA chapter and Region President. He attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for a year before deciding that he'd rather be on the ranch. From that point, he worked on the ranch, got married and ran the family's feed mill operations for the feed lot until opening Ranchers Feed of Hollister in 1976. He built and ran Ranchers Feed for over 45 years. Additionally, Mike served the greater community over the years as a leader and member of the Pacheco Pass Water Board, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Association, the San Benito County Fair livestock auction and was a founding member of the Baler Boosters parents' group in the 1980s. Through his business, Mike employed many of the youth of San Benito County and encouraged them to better their lives through work ethic and education. He was an ardent supporter of local 4-H and FFA organizations and programs.

Mike and Elin lived in the same house that they built when married for over 60 years on Pacheco Pass and had a deep love for the entire area. One of his greatest joys was calf branding season and joining fellow cattlemen and women in the annual events. Maybe even more than the brandings themselves, he relished seeing all of the people and enjoyed hearing all their stories while maybe telling a few himself.

As a young man, Mike became a private pilot. He joined a local aero club and flew the Cessna around California and as far away as Nogales, AZ, to check in on his father who was on the border engaged in buying cattle for the family ranch operation. He eventually got his own airplane which brought him great joy, but bigger bills, before he parted with it as the feed store absorbed all of his time while it grew.

Few may have realized based on his standard attire of Wrangler jeans, long sleeve western shirts, cowboy boots and hats, that Mike very much enjoyed both snow and water skiing! Mike and Elin travelled to ski, mostly to the Sierras but ventured as far as British Columbia, Oregon, Colorado and Utah to ski, along with their great friends Chuck and Barb Hawkins. Much to their boys' disappointment, they only got to go to the Sierras and Oregon. Water skiing led to houseboating adventures on Lake Shasta and Lake Don Pedro as well as shorter trips to some more local lakes. Yes, Mike did own a pair of swim trunks or two!

Another of his great joys was their trip to Ireland. He had hoped to return to the Emerald Isle with the whole family, but sadly the ravages of a cruel disease left that dream unfulfilled. Many have been regaled, though, with the excitement of driving on the very narrow, rock wall lined roads of the island on the wrong side of the road-as if the roads were large enough roads to have two sides!!

Even as Parkinson's attacked his body and mind, Mike was always quick with a joke or quip to make you smile. He was an honest, caring man and we are proud and grateful that he was ours.

A memorial service will be held in Hollister in the near future as plans can be made.

Published in Hollister Free Lance · January 15, 2026