Husband Bob McConnell [16186]
Born: 15 Apr 1943 - Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States
Christened:
Died: 16 Jun 2013 - Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States
Buried:
Find A Grave ID: 271187237
Marriage:
Events
• His obituary was published. 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 SM 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).
Wife Nancy D Becraft [16185]
Born: 23 Jan 1944 - Manhattan, Riley, Kansas
Christened:
Died: 16 Apr 2018 - Kansas City, Clay Co, MO
Buried:
Find A Grave ID: 271186571
Father: Wendell Orgie Becraft [3535] (1909-1975) 1
Mother: Effie Bernice Patee [3847] (1909-1994)
Events
• Her obituary was published in The Mecury on 18 Apr 2018. Nancy D. McConnell
Apr 18, 2018
Nancy D. McConnell, 74, passed away on April 16, 2018 at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri following an ovarian cancer battle where she exhibited unwavering perseverance.
Nancy was born January 23, 1944 in Manhattan, Kansas to Wendell and Bernice (Patee) Becraft. She graduated from Manhattan High School in 1962, and completed a Bachelors of Arts degree from Kansas State University in 1966. During college, Nancy met her husband and Kansas State basketball player, Bob McConnell. They were married for 46 years at the time of Bob's passing in 2013.
After graduation, Bob and Nancy moved to Overland Park where she began work as a computer programmer for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one of few women in this profession in the 1960s. After 18 years at the USDA, Nancy transitioned careers to real estate where she earned numerous awards for her successes as a licensed realtor. For 35 years, Nancy worked tirelessly to find and sell homes for her valued clients who described her as a consummate, passionate professional \endash pragmatic, detail-oriented, witty, and caring.
Bob and Nancy had two daughters, Jamie and Daria. Nancy was determined to instill independence, a strong work ethic, and emphasized the value of lifelong learning in her girls. Her desire to develop well-rounded women was evident by her insistence on exposing her girls to a multitude of activities that would enhance and cultivate spiritual, academic, and athletic growth. Nancy equipped her daughters with every attribute necessary to carry on her legacy. As much as she loved Jamie and Daria, her love multiplied with the birth of each one of her six grandchildren. Her unwavering determination to develop a relationship with each grandchild, despite her illness, became her focus through countless hours at Deanna Rose Farmstead, the Kansas City Zoo, Silver Dollar City, the mountains of Colorado, and many wagered (and lost) games of Chutes and Ladders.
Nancy had numerous other passions devoted to helping those in need, and furthering and improving the amenities of the Overland Park community. As Chairperson of the Deanna Rose Friends of the Farmstead Executive Committee, she was instrumental in securing funding for the significant expansion projects that have occurred over the past several years and continue to be developed at the Farm. She took great pride giving of her time and financial resources to various causes.
Nancy is survived by her daughters, Jamie (Clif) Carney and Daria (Phil) Byrne of Overland Park, Kansas; her sister, Linda (Tim) of Manhattan, Kansas; her brothers, Larry (Anne) of Manhattan, Kansas, and David (Janet) of Grandview, Missouri; her grandchildren, Cole, Jenna, Finnegan, Helena, Lochlan, and Max; her five nieces, Christy, Tami (Rich), Susan (Jason), Stephanie, and Ginger (Grant); her beloved dog, Daisy; and countless friends, co-workers, former clients, and Manhattan High School classmates of 1962.
SERVICES
At Nancy's request, a private memorial service for the family will be held this week, with a celebration of life with details forthcoming in the near future for all who wish to honor her memory.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead for the purpose of building the Draft Horse Barn, a priority for Nancy (13800 Switzer Road Overland Park, Kansas 66221 or https://arfop.donorshops.com/product/A83D048/contribution-for-the-farmstead. Please note Nancy McConnell). In addition, Jamie and Daria would like to encourage other acts of kindness in her honor, such as adopting a shelter pet, giving assistance to someone in their time of need, or saving a turtle from a busy street.
Children