Larry McConnell

August 20, 1942 - July 4, 2018

Larry McConnell died on July 5, 2018, at home in Bartlett, Illinois. He far outlived the odds of his cancer prognosis to the astonishment of his medical team and family.

Larry was born August 20, 1942, in Streator, Illinois, to Arthur Bartley McConnell and Betty Jean Laurance. He was the second child and first son of the couple.

He was a 1960 graduate of Streator Township High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Turkey in 1961 during peacetime, and he fondly remembered its people and their hospitality. His highest rank was Spc. E4. He was a longtime employee of the U.S. Postal Service in Elgin, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary Ellen McConnell, nee Fitzpatrick; sister Judy Sherman; step-brother John H. Prall; and brother-in-law Edmund Yeck.

He leaves behind his sons Kevin McConnell (Lauren) and Michael McConnell; brother Patrick McConnell (Joyce); sister Marsha Yeck; half-sisters Susan Grady (Jerry Weber), Kate MacArthur (Gregg) and Krista Prall; step-brother William Prall; step-sister Mary Castner; and grandchildren Emma, Ryan and Liam McConnell, whom he adored.

He wed Mary Ellen Fitzpatrick on November 26, 1966, in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Larry missed her terribly after she died January 15, 2008.

He loved his Grandma Patria “Peg” Brenn, who often made him lunch when he was a schoolboy. He always talked about her dumplings and other scratch-cooked specialties. He also loved his Aunt Mae Master’s fried chicken and country green beans. He always wanted to drive cross-country and eat at many of the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” restaurants featured on television.

He enjoyed classic rock music, especially The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac. Larry admired tough guy characters in films and television shows. His idol was John Wayne and his favorite TV show was NCIS. He preferred the character Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in the beginning of the story before he had his overnight revelation. But around a little child, Larry would melt into a giggling fool.

He credited much of his ongoing survival to Drs. Melody Derrick, Patrick Fenner, Robert Eisner, Vinai Gondi, Wahid Kassar, Ernest Dejesus, Robert Nierzwicki and Joseph Schneider.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.