James Connors

James Connors, 79, Overland Park, Kansas, died Thursday May 12, 2011, at home.

Jim was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the middle child of James and Ruth Connors, and was raised and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. He served the U.S. Navy on submarines in Pearl Harbor and Japan, worked for the railroad, and married his high school sweetheart after many years of bachelorhood. They had three daughters in rapid succession and moved to Merriam, Kansas, where they promptly completed their family with a son.

For most of his working life, Jim was employed by International Harvester in Fairfax. Jim was a devoted Queen parishioner and his spouse's right-hand-man in innumerable works of mercy. He was a fun, hard-working, and wholly-committed father and an adored grandfather of six boys and six girls. Jim was devoted to his Catholic faith and his family. He enjoyed keeping a home, humor, his Irish heritage, and prose and poetry.

He leaves behind Rosemary, his wife of 50 years this month; his children and their families Theresa and Ken Hursh (Genni, Andrew, and Bernadette), Lori and Mike McGroder (Joe, Jake and Meg), Kathleen and Jim Halling (Anthony, Brigid, Mary Cate and Tess), and Mike and DeeDee Connors (Jimmy and Kevin); Alice and Dan Dooley (his sister and brother-in-law); and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family thanks Kansas City Hospice and our wonderful nurse, Ann Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Funeral Service

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday May 20, 2011, Queen of the Holy Rosary, 71st and Metcalf. Celebration of Life Reception, 11:45 a.m., Queen Social Hall. Graveside service, 2:30 p.m., Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira.