John Lewis McConnell,

85 of Emily and Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by his family on July 31, 2019.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, August 10, 2019 with a visitation starting at 10:30 AM at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis.  John will be laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery following the service.

John was born in Minneapolis on August 27, 1933 to Ina Alveda (née Harten) and John Henry McConnell.  John graduated from Roosevelt High School and Dunwoody Institute and was a veteran having served in the U.S. Army as the Korean War was ending.

John worked for the City of Minneapolis for 37 years, first as a laborer, then after graduation from Dunwoody as plan reviewer, and finally as a building inspector. He was a member of Laborers Local 363 and Carpenters Local 851. He took great pride in his work and in ensuring the buildings he inspected were safe. John had a great gift for patiently teaching and explaining how to build and craft almost anything which was showcased in the home he built in Minneapolis and cabin on Lake Mary as well as the many projects he “supervised” over the years.

John loved nothing more than a cabin full of family and friends and then those family and friends departing, leaving him in solitude to his birding, carving, and reading. John loved to travel, having visited all 50 states and four continents. John believed strongly in service, proudly serving as a trustee for Minnehaha and Richfield United Methodist Churches, on the City of Emily Planning & Zoning Commission, as a public member on the State of Minnesota Board of Electricity, and as that board’s representative on the Minnesota Construction Codes Advisory Council.

John’s unparalleled pride and joy were his two sons and their families. He leaves behind son, David and his spouse, Becky McConnell (née Tape) and son, Dan and his spouse, Becky Boland.  John loved his grandchildren: Sam and Will McConnell, and Elsa Boland. His sons couldn’t have asked for a better father and already miss his unfailing willingness to help or give sound advice when asked, and willingness to help fix things that went wrong when they had not asked for that advice. John had many treasured friendships and was known for his care in those relationships as well as his sense of humor. In his final days, John treasured the opportunity to share many fond memories with family and longtime friends including 70-plus year friend, Jerry Motz and wife, Mary Lou. John cared deeply for Delrose Peterson and the family honors their many years of happy memories and the care they have for one another.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the American Cancer Society or the Animal Humane Society. John asked all remember him as shared in the traditional Irish poem The Parting Glass: “Of all good times that e’er we shared, I leave to you fond memory; And for all the friendship that e’er we had, I ask you to remember me; And when you sit and stories tell, I’ll be with you and help recall; So fill to me the parting glass, God bless and joy be with you all.”