Harold E. McConnell

Harold Eugene McConnell passed away on February 3, 2020, in Tempe,

Arizona at the age of 91. Harold was born on May 3, 1928, in Haxtun,

Colorado, the son of Gaylord and Elva (Critchlow) McConnell. He attended

grade school at Community Center and was a 1946 graduate of Haxtun

High School.

Following graduation, Harold played a season of semi-pro baseball for the

Riverside, California Dons. He returned to Colorado and worked for Sterling

Ice and Cold Storage, Whitcomb Motors in Sterling, and a summer for

Laurence Heermann. Harold married Dorothy Mae Hofmeister at the

Haxtun Methodist Church on May 22, 1949. They raised four children on

their farm north of Haxtun.

Along with his own farming Harold became a Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Sales

Representative in 1960 enjoying a 30 year career serving farm customers.

Harold also enjoyed working with youth through driving school and

activities buses. He managed Babe Ruth and Junior Legion baseball

teams. He served on the Haxtun Oil Cooperative Board, Jaycees, Haxtun

Gun Club, Phillips County Recreational Board, F&H Golf Club Board, and

chaired the Gun Club Lake project. Upon retirement in 1991, Harold and

Dorothy moved to Haxtun. He continued to stay busy with yard work, golf,

Colorado Rockies games, and he delighted in attending his grandchildren’s

activities and sports events. He loved to travel and he spent winters with

many friends in Mesa, Arizona.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, brother Everett McConnell,

sister Pauline Koberstein, and grandson Ty Casselman. He is survived by

his wife Dorothy; son Richard (Deborah) McConnell of Johnston, Iowa, and

their children Kevin (Laura) McConnell, Drew (Tami) McConnell, and Jana

(Kiel) Foster; son Larry (Adele) McConnell of Haxtun, and their children

Shanda (Jeremy) Vandenbark, Darci (Matt) Meyer, and Kyle (Brandi)

McConnell; daughter Sharon (Mike) Casselman of Westminster, California,

and their children Lindy (Shawn) Edwards, Scott (Megan) Casselman, and

Amy (Phil) Hora; daughter Karolyn (Bob) Bruce of Eaton, Colorado, and

their children Sarah (Mike) Kelly, Jessica (Ryan) Brzeinski, Nathan

(Danielle) Bruce, Anna (Nathan) Trowbridge, and Kaleb Bruce; 29 great

grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at a later date.

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