Bob McConnell

W. R. “Bob” McConnell, 91, passed away in Sandpoint on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. A family gathering will be held at a later date. Bob was born in Acme, Oregon on Dec. 3, 1919 the son of Harold and Edyth McConnell. The family moved to Santa Barbara, California where he graduated from high school. He joined the US Army on June 9, 1941 and was shipped to the Philippines on Oct. 27, 1941. At the beginning of WWII he became part of the Bataan Death March. He was a prisoner of war until being liberated on VJ Day, August 15, 1945. He was in hospitals in Iwo Jima, the Philippines and California prior to being discharged. He moved to Santa Barbara, California and on Dec. 14, 1947 married Emma M Graham in Las Vegas, Nevada. He worked for the Santa Barbara Police Department, on the motorcycle detail and as a captain, retiring in 1972. In retirement he worked as a security officer for a country club, in Lake Almanor, California. In January of 1987 the family moved to Sagle, Idaho and Emma passed away in 2008. He was a member of the Farragut Flyers and enjoyed flying radio controlled model airplanes. He was also a member of the Spokane Chapter of the Ex-Prisoners of War Association. He enjoyed building, and flying, model airplanes, “tinkering” with electronics and fishing. He is survived by his daughter Doreen (and Bill) Dugan in Sagle; 3 grandchildren Denise Ducken, Lance (and Candace) Hull, and Sean (and Margo) Kelly; 6 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was also preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.