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June 8, 1925- Dec. 16, 2009

ROCHESTER - Services for John Edward Connors, 84, of Rochester will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Madonna Towers chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Madonna Towers Living Community Foundation at 4001 19th Ave. NW Rochester MN 55901 or Poverello Fund at St Mary's Hospital, Rochester MN 55902.

He died Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at St Mary's Hospital.

He was born June 8, 1925, at Stonington, Conn., to Francis and Mary Alice Connors. He graduated from Brown University and married Elizabeth Katherine Gervais on June 12, 1950, in Currie. In 1953 he was named superintendent of Lynd schools. In 1963 he and Betty became Catholic Church Extension Society volunteers and then moved to Rowena, Texas. In 1965, he became a director for Extension and moved to Lubbock, Texas, where he resided for 43 years. August 2008 he and Betty moved to Rochester and reside at Madonna Towers.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years; six children, Robert (and Betty) of Trimont, Mary of Sinton, Texas, Ruth (and Robert) Smith of Colorado Springs, Colo., Ellen Koepsell of Rochester, Thomas (and Jodi) of Minnetonka, Michael (and partner Dean Hart) of Seattle; four grandchildren, Philip (and Martha), Lisa, Maggie, Dan Smith and great-grandson, Joseph Voth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Francis and sister, Theresa; sons, Joseph and Edwin; grandson, Daniel and son-in-law, James Koepsell.

As per John's wishes, his body was donated to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education.