Mildred Rau Conner Obituary (1910 - 2007)

Mildred Rau Conner, 97, of Tower Hill, died Sunday, August 26, 2007 in Shelby Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Conner was born March 3, 1910 in Tower Hill, the second daughter of Charles and Louise Munzenmaier Rau. She was a 1926 graduate of Pana Township High School, and received her teaching certificate from Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College in 1928. She held a bachelor's and a master's degree in education from the University of Illinois, and taught in the Christian and Shelby County school systems for 13 years. She married Staff Sergeant James B. Conner, Vernon, AL, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1942 at the family farm. As 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Air Force, he was a casualty in the Pacific Theater on December 7, 1944. Mrs. Conner and their 4-month old son then resided on the farm, her birthplace, to be with her parents as a homemaker and caretaker. She was a lifelong member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Dollville. Mrs. Conner was a Women's Church Guild member and active in Sunday school work, including organizing the Faithful Follower's class for the young people. She was in the RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) for 21 years, at what is now Shelbyville Olivewood Healthcare Center. She was also a member of the Shelby County Farm Bureau and a Tower Hill Women's Club member. Mrs. Conner delighted in the great outdoors, including gardening and yard work. She was an avid fan of the U of I football and basketball games. Surviving are her son, Jim and wife Mary, Louisville, KY; granddaughter, Kelly husband Mitchell Emoff, Brentwood, TN; granddaughter, Allison husband Tom Whitten, Jr., Redding, CA; sister, Virginia Missman, Leesburg, FL; niece, Denise Maloney, Jupiter, FL; and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 brother, 2 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law. Funeral Information Mrs. Conner willed her body to the University of Illinois Medical School. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Hibbett officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service and following the service in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home.