James Robert “Bob” Mcconnell

James Robert "Bob" McConnell, 70, passed away on June 16, 2013 at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

He was born on April 15, 1943, in Kansas City, Kansas, to James and Jennie (Johnson) McConnell. Bob grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1961. At Shawnee Mission East, Bob excelled at all sports including baseball, track and field, and basketball. He was a highly sought after high school athlete and was offered a professional baseball contract, but opted to attend Kansas State University and play basketball under head coach Tex Winter. In addition, Bob was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. At Kansas State, he met his wife, Nancy Becraft, and they were married for 46 years.

After graduating, Bob and Nancy moved to Overland Park where he began work as a chemical engineer for Bendix Corporation. He continued to play handball, tennis, racquetball, table tennis, and golf and would gladly accept any invitation to compete sometimes playing left handed so that his opponent would have a fair chance. He later switched careers and worked for the United States Department of Agriculture as a computer programmer. Despite his athletic successes, Bob would definitively state that he took the most pride in his two daughters, Jamie and Daria, whom he coached and supported through academics and athletics with unwavering support and attentiveness. Family and friends will remember him as the humble, genuine, kind, and compassionate man he was, and will greatly miss his amazing sense of humor.

Bob is survived by his spouse, Nancy, of Overland Park, Kansas; his daughters, Jamie (Clif) Carney, and Daria (Phil) Byrne of Overland Park, Kansas; his brothers, Rick of Mission, Kansas, and John (Cindy) of Buffalo, Missouri; his grandchildren, Cole, Jenna, Finnegan, Helena, and Lochlan; and his beloved German Shepherd, Charlie.

After years of struggling with a debilitating physical condition, Bob's family rejoices in the promise of eternal life and with it, a new body, where he can once again shoot hoops, only this time in God's driveway.

At the request of Bob, a private memorial service for the family will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in his memory to the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, a park where his grandchildren love to spend time (13800 Switzer Rd. Overland Park, KS 66221 or www.drfarmstead.org click on “Donor Opportunities” and please note Bob McConnell Memorial Fund)