Hancock County Journal - Pilot
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
February 21, 2001ROBERT MCCONNELL August 3, 1924 -- February 19, 2001
Robert Harmon McConnell, 76, of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, died February 19, 2001, at Blessing Hospital. He was born August 3, 1924, in Carthage the son of Wesley and Grace (Harmon) McConnell.
He is survived by one daughter, Elaine Gates of Colchester; three sons, Fred (Pat) McConnell of Fairview, Mont., Terry (Brenda) McConnell of Colchester, Rodney (Heikie) McConnell of Webster; two granddaughters, Kathy McConnell of Fairview, and Danielle Gates of Colchester; four grandsons, Fred McConnell, New York, NY, Chris McConnell, Madison, Wisc., David McConnell, Macomb, and Matthew Gates of Colchester; three sisters, Jane McDaniel of Carthage, Mary Helen Shoemaker of Wyoming and Virginia Fossey of Utah; two brothers, Clyde McConnell of Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, and John (Ruth) McConnell of Maquon, Ill; and many wonderful cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Kathy McConnell to an auto accident at age 11 in 1977; and one brother, Bill McConnell.
He had worked at Colchester Brick and Tile and retired from Keokuk Steel Castings. He was a combat infantryman in the Army 71st Division in World War II. He entered combat near Luneville, France sector with Seventh Army with Rhine River Crossing, joined Third Army for crossing Germany and Austria. He fought in the battles of Bitche, France, breaching Maginot and Siegfried lines; Lingenfield, Frankfurt, Coburg, Bayreuth, Amberg, Regensburg, Staubing, Austria; Reid, Lambach, Wels, Steyr. His division liberated concentration camps Straubing, Gunskirchen, and many other smaller camps of the Mauthausen camp groups. They held the distinction of penetrating farther east than any other U.S. Combat Unit, accepting the surrender of the German Army group South on May 7, 1945, one day prior to V.E. Day and total rout of the German Sixth SS Division Nord. He was awarded with three overseas service bars; American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, Good Conduct, and World War II Victory Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1946, he served again in the National Guard from 1950 to 1953 as a Corporal.
He attended the Argyle Bible Church and Webster Communy Church. He loved attending the McConnell reunions.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Jones Mortuary in Colchester. Friends may call after noon Wednesday.
Burial will be in the McConnell Cemetery, Fountain Green at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.
HCJP 2-21-01
