Harold McConnell

Harold Eugene McConnell passed away on Feb. 3, 2020 in Tempe, Ariz. at the age of 91.

Harold was born on May 3, 1928 in Haxtun, 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 Dons in California. 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 United 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 32-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, Philips 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 sporting events. He loved to travel and he spent winters with many friends in Mesa, Ariz.

Harold is survived by his wife Dorothy; son Richard and wife Deborah McConnell, Johnston, Iowa and their children Kevin and wife Laura McConnell, Drew and wife Tami McConnell and Jana and husband Kiel Foster; son Larry and wife Adele McConnell, Haxtun, and their children Shanda and husband Jeremy Vandenbark, Darci and husband Matt Meyer and Kyle and wife Brandi McConnell; daughter Sharon and husband Mike Casselman, Westminster, Calif., and their children Lindy and husband Shawn Edwards, Scott and wife Megan Casselman and Amy and husband Phil Hora; daughter Karolyn and husband Bob Bruce, Eaton, and their children Sarah and husband Mike Kelly, Jessica and husband Ryan Brzeinski, Nathan and wife Danielle Bruce, Anna and husband Nathan Trowbridge and Kaleb Bruce; 29 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Everett McConnell; sister Pauline Koberstein and grandson Ty Casselman.

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