Thomas Richard Connell
Replies: 0
Thomas Richard Connell
 JIWelsch
(View posts)
|
Posted: 13 Jun 2009 1:29PM GMT |
Classification: Obituary
CLARKSTON, Wash. - Thomas Richard Connell, 68, of Asotin, Wash., left us peacefully on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 2006 to celebrate the Lord's birth in Heaven.
A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Parish. Rev. Tom Connolly will officiate. Visitation will be at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Hospice,
Clarkston, Wash. 99403.
Mr. Connell was born on July 11, 1938, in Muscatine to Cornelius N. Connell and Lucille A. McFadden, who preceded him in death. The second of five children, he grew up in Iowa but settled in California for most of his adult life. He loved the beach and warm weather.
He married Joan A. Wohlgemuth, an RN, on Nov. 10, 1962, at Luke AFB outside Pheonix, Ariz. They had three children.
After honorable discharge from active duty Air Force in 1960, he joined the California Air National Guard in Van Nuys as a civil service employee and guardsman until 1985, achieving the rank of SMSGT. Tom and Joan made their home in Simi Valley. His second career was in Long Beach, Calif., with McDonald Douglas/Boeing as a flight crew trainer, where he tested the C-17 aircraft until retirement in 2001. He really loved the relocation to Huntington Beach, Calif., however after retiring and traveling in their motorhome, Tom and Joan settled in Asotin, Wash., to be near their daughter, Sheila, and son-in-law Tim, and four of their six grandchildren.
Mr. Connell loved to fly, explore the world over, and bring home exotic 'stuff' from his trips. He held a private pilot's license and certification in instruction and instrumentation. He coached many years of Little League for his son and then again for his granddaughters. He was always a practicing Catholic who remained faithful to the church. Tom also loved to take the camper, his family and a map and travel a passion which continued into retirement. The computer and digital photography kept him busy. He liked to go gambling and play with investments in real estate and stocks. He's going to miss the Bulls and Bears Stock Club of Clarkston!
He is survived by many people who will miss him, his wife Joan Connell of Asotin, son Patrick Connell of Arlington, Va. with wife Julia and grandson, Nicholas; son, Sean Connell of Honolulu, Hi., with wife Harumi and granddaughter, Marino; and daughter Sheila Flock of Clarkston, Wash., and husband Timothy and grandchildren Ashley, Celeste, Timothy and Gabrielle. He also leaves his siblings, Carolyn Kurriger and husband Frank of Tacoma, Wash.; Sr. Catherine Connell, SSS, of Sacramento, Calif., David Connell and wife Barb of Davenport, and Mary Stoutenberg and late husband Dale, of Oxnard, Calif. He had the chance to personally say goodbye to these people and many more, which led to a very peaceful death.
Tom's grandchildren found him passionate in his ideas, silly in his nicknames (but he wouldn't change them), and extremely proud of their accomplishments. Moreover they learned the value of family, even when distance separates you. Grandpa, we will miss you very much.
A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Parish. Rev. Tom Connolly will officiate. Visitation will be at Merchant Funeral Home in Clarkston. Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Hospice,
Clarkston, Wash. 99403.
Mr. Connell was born on July 11, 1938, in Muscatine to Cornelius N. Connell and Lucille A. McFadden, who preceded him in death. The second of five children, he grew up in Iowa but settled in California for most of his adult life. He loved the beach and warm weather.
He married Joan A. Wohlgemuth, an RN, on Nov. 10, 1962, at Luke AFB outside Pheonix, Ariz. They had three children.
After honorable discharge from active duty Air Force in 1960, he joined the California Air National Guard in Van Nuys as a civil service employee and guardsman until 1985, achieving the rank of SMSGT. Tom and Joan made their home in Simi Valley. His second career was in Long Beach, Calif., with McDonald Douglas/Boeing as a flight crew trainer, where he tested the C-17 aircraft until retirement in 2001. He really loved the relocation to Huntington Beach, Calif., however after retiring and traveling in their motorhome, Tom and Joan settled in Asotin, Wash., to be near their daughter, Sheila, and son-in-law Tim, and four of their six grandchildren.
Mr. Connell loved to fly, explore the world over, and bring home exotic 'stuff' from his trips. He held a private pilot's license and certification in instruction and instrumentation. He coached many years of Little League for his son and then again for his granddaughters. He was always a practicing Catholic who remained faithful to the church. Tom also loved to take the camper, his family and a map and travel a passion which continued into retirement. The computer and digital photography kept him busy. He liked to go gambling and play with investments in real estate and stocks. He's going to miss the Bulls and Bears Stock Club of Clarkston!
He is survived by many people who will miss him, his wife Joan Connell of Asotin, son Patrick Connell of Arlington, Va. with wife Julia and grandson, Nicholas; son, Sean Connell of Honolulu, Hi., with wife Harumi and granddaughter, Marino; and daughter Sheila Flock of Clarkston, Wash., and husband Timothy and grandchildren Ashley, Celeste, Timothy and Gabrielle. He also leaves his siblings, Carolyn Kurriger and husband Frank of Tacoma, Wash.; Sr. Catherine Connell, SSS, of Sacramento, Calif., David Connell and wife Barb of Davenport, and Mary Stoutenberg and late husband Dale, of Oxnard, Calif. He had the chance to personally say goodbye to these people and many more, which led to a very peaceful death.
Tom's grandchildren found him passionate in his ideas, silly in his nicknames (but he wouldn't change them), and extremely proud of their accomplishments. Moreover they learned the value of family, even when distance separates you. Grandpa, we will miss you very much.