Joseph A. McConnell, Sr., age 76 of Marion, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at Riverside Methodist Hospital. He was born on July 21, 1947 in Marion to the late Delmar J. and Glenola (Mitton) McConnell. Joe worked for Cypress, previously Eaton Dana, for 39 years and served proudly with the National Guard.
Thanks to his industrial maintenance background, Joe could fix just about anything that was broken. He even obtained a journeyman’s card for mechanics. He is described as an extremely patient man, a man that did what he chose to do, and a man who rarely did things he did not want to do. He was known to be great at planning things, but often lacked the motivation to follow up and do them, one of the many traits his family loved about him.
Most weekends, you would find Joe at his Apple Valley home, where he enjoyed his friends and family at the Apple Valley Campground or Apply Valley Beach. At the campground, he would often play his guitar around the campfire. Some of his favorite tunes were “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald,” as he was an avid Gordon Lightfoot fan. His other interest was the outdoors. He enjoyed being in his yard at his Apple Valley home, and he was a diehard Ford guy.
Above all, Joe was proud of his son. The two of them spending time together was something he loved. Joe will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his son Joe (Jewellene) McConnell, Jr.; his daughters Kendra P. McConnell and Jodi R. McConnell; his sisters Linda Patrick, Ann Murphy, and Peggy Cameron; and his grandchildren Chase Joseph McConnell, Shelby G. Samples, Kesley G. McConnell, Michael Yeoman, and Mark Yeoman.
He was preceded in death by his parents Delmar and Glenola and his sister Kathy McConnell.
Family and friends may gather to honor Joe’s memory on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 10 am to 11 am at the Boyd Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at 11 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Waldo Cemetery.