Dale B. Mcconnell

Memorial Services for Dale B. McConnell will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating. Private family interment will be in the Bainbridge Cemetery near Huntley, Nebraska, prior to the services.

Dale Bobby McConnell, 75 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Dale was born May 24, 1934 at Holdrege, the son of Dick and Cecil Fern (Porter) McConnell. He received his primary education at the Roosevelt Grade School and Junior High School in Holdrege and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1954. Dale played the trumpet in high school band and was also active in jazz band. He lettered in basketball, football and track in Jr. and Sr. High. He participated in the state track meet as a member of the relay team in running. He also threw the discus.

With his talent of trumpet playing he volunteered to play taps at the Veterans Service on Memorial Day for several years. Dale then pursued higher education, attending community college in Milford, Nebraska for two years majoring in Diesel Mechanics. He was inducted into the United States Army in 1957. Dale was an instructor in Diesel Mechanics in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He spent one year in Korea, before his Honorable Discharge from the Army. During his service years, he played football on an Army team while in Korea.

Dale worked as a Diesel Mechanic in Cozad, Nebraska. He was united in marriage to Karen Marie Shaffer on March 17, 1957 and to this union two children were born: Nancy Marie and David Dale. He then moved with his family to Holdrege, where he was employed at Shaffer Cleaners, Inc. and in the following years, he and Karen assumed management and ownership of the family business. Dale was critically injured in a fall at his home in 1987, remained quadriplegic and made his home at Holdrege Memorial Homes until his passing.

Dale was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, past member of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce and past member of the Nebraska-Iowa Dry Cleaners Association. His hobbies included: boating, enjoying time at Johnson Lake, coaching basketball at R-4 school and coaching little league football and baseball when his children were young. Dale was an avid Nebraska Husker Football Fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, LaVern.

He is survived by his two children: Nancy Larson and son-in-law, Dale Larson of Funk, Nebraska and Dr. David McConnell and his wife, Karen of Kearney, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Matthew and Elly Larson of Funk, Cassie Prestia of Omaha, Nebraska and Austin and Cole McConnell of Kearney; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 10, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.