McConnell, Anna 1870-1957

MCCONNELL, MUCKLE, JEFFREY, HAMILTON, HOCKETT, ARNAMAN, JOHNSTON, GOODLOW, GOEKE, BALTISBERGER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/8/2011 at 12:03:09

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 12, 1957

ANNA MCCONNELL

The life of a very gracious Grinnell lady was brought to a close on Friday evening, Sept. 6, 1957, when Mrs. Anna McConnell, widow of Thomas McConnell, passed away at a local hospital following a stroke which she had suffered on the preceding Tuesday.

Anna Jeffrey McConnell was born Feb. 20, 1870, in Carrowdore, county Down, Ireland, the youngest child of John and Jane Muckle Jeffrey. In the year 1879 she came with her parents to the United States. Although a small child when she left Ireland, she had a very distinct memory of her childhood days and of her trip to this country. The family settled on a farm in Pleasant Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa, and at the time of her death she had been a continuous resident of this county for 79 years.

When a young girl Mrs. McConnell was afflicted with a disease of the hip bone causing a dislocation, a burden she has always had to bear. However, she was too brave to let this interfere with living a normal life.

While the family lived on the farm she attended school at Pleasant No. 9 and when the family moved to Ewart for a short period she completed her education there, preparing for the profession of a teacher.

On January 26, 1897, she was united in marriage with Mr. Thomas McConnell, at Ewart. They went to housekeeping on a farm in Pleasant township where they resided until 1931 when they moved to 709 Eighth Avenue in this city where the remainder of their lives were spent. To this union five children were born, all surviving. It was the privilege of this fine couple to celebrate their golden wedding aniversary on Janaury 26, 1947. Mr. McConnell passed away Dec. 30, 1947.

Mrs. McConnell was raised a Christian and early in life made a profession of her faith and united with the Ewart United Presbyterian church. Her membership was transferred to the Grinnell United Presbyterian church in the year 1931.

Near surviving relatives include her only son, Paul, with whom she resided at the time of her death; her four daughters--Florence Jane (Mrs. Edward Hamilton) and Gladys (Mrs. Norman Hockett), of Grinnell; Grace (Mrs. Charles Arnaman) and Leona (Mrs. Vesta Johnston), of Montezuma; her four sons-in-law; the eight grandchildren, who are: Ronald Arnaman, Robert, Lowell, and Edwin Hockett, of Grinnell; Gary Johnston, Marilyn Johnston Goodlow and Annagrace Arnaman Goeke of Montezuma, and Darlene Johnston Baltisberger, of Malcom. Also her five great grandchildren, Beverly, Vickie, and Becky Arnaman, and Randy and Terry Goeke.

Mrs. McConnell's greatest interest was her home and family and she proved herself to be an ideal wife and mother. She loved God's Word, and in the closing years of her life when members of her family dropped in to see her they usually found her reading her Bible.

Funeral services conducted by her pastor, Rev. E.E. Beattie, pastor of the United Presbyterian church, were held at two o'clock Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, at the James Funeral Home. The scripture passages taken from Revelation 21:1-7, and 22:1-7, were read by her grandson, Robert Hockett. Two numbers--"In the Garden" and "Asleep in Jesus," were sung by Mrs. J.S. Copeland and Mrs. C.L. Braley with Mrs. William Jeffrey at the piano. Mrs. Raymond Norris and Mrs. Jayne Skidmore were in charge of the flowers. Pall bearers, all gransons, were Lowell Hockett, Ronald Arnaman, Leonard Goeke, Gary Johnston, Daryl Goodlow, and Wilbur Baltisberger. Interment was in the family plot in Pleasant cemetery at Ewart.