Arnold Connor

Arnold “Arny” Connor
May 11, 1926-August 30, 2017
Arnold Gaylord Connor was born in Kenosha, WI on May 11, 1926 to Mary Elizabeth (Adams) Connor and Rupert Benjamin Connor. He was raised in Sleepy Eye, MN by his grandmother, Rena Adams. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and served in the Pacific until 1946. He married his high school sweetheart of 5 years, Virginia Mae Ingraham on September 18, 1948. He graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of MN in 1951, when they moved to Hibbing.  Arnold worked at Hanna Mining for 12 years then joined Meriden Engineering (now Superior Minerals) and retired in 1991.

Arnold was active in many things; he played trombone in the Keewatin City Band, was a member of the Hibbing Bocce Club, loved bowling, racquetball and curling. He was honored in 2006 for participating in all 50 years of the Last Chance Bonspiel. He also achieved a perfect 8-end game in curling in 1995 in the Chisholm Senior Spiel, which is rarer than a 300 game in bowling.

He belonged to the American Legion, Masons and was past president of the Aad Range Shrine.  He drove in the Shrine Motor Patrol for many years. In retirement he practiced his hobby as a locksmith and helped many people with their locks.

He and Virginia loved to travel. They visited Canada many times, a lot of the western USA, especially enjoying Laughlin and Las Vegas, Nevada. Their overseas trips included Great Britain, most of Europe, Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.

Survived by his wife of 69 years, Virginia Connor, son Kevin (Susan) Connor of Duluth, daughter Shaun (Eric) Kuffel, and beloved granddaughter Becca Kuffel of Maple Grove MN. Preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Rupert Connor, stepmother Ida Connor, half-brother Richard Connor and half-sister Gail Connor.

Memorial service to be held Saturday, Sept. 2nd  at 2:00 pm. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hibbing. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Interment will be at a later date at Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN

Memorials are preferred to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org), The Shrine Children’s Hospital (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org), Fairview Range Hospice (Mesabi Mall, 1101 E. 37th St., Ste. 27, Hibbing, MN 55746) or the Hibbing Wesley Methodist Church (303 E. 23rd St. Hibbing, MN 55746.

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