Joseph "Joe" Connors' Obituary
Joseph (Joe) Connors, age 83, passed peacefully on July 14th, 2023.
Joe is survived by his beloved children Andrea Connors MacLeod, Kelly Connors
Johnson, brother Michael, sister-in-law Jeannie, son-in-law Keith Johnson, and
grandchildren Jessi, Julia, Derek, Alyssa, Joey, Kiesha, and Brian. He is preceded
in death by his wife Kate (11/21), sons Damon and Eric, son-in-law Wayne
MacLeod, and brother Richard.
Visitation will be from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on Monday, July 17th, at Young-Gilbert
Funeral Home in Algonac. Funeral services will be held the following day,
Tuesday, July 18th, at 11 am. Pastor Larry Owens, of Living Word Worship Center
in Brownstown, will officiate. A wake follows at the Lions Club on Harsens
Island.
We look forward to seeing you Monday and Tuesday, and we welcome this space
to tell you a little about our father in advance.
Joe was born April 10th, 1940. He served his country honorably through the
Army, becoming a drill sergeant after only 18 months. He was rated expert for
marksmanship, and was chosen as Soldier of the Month during his enlistment. He
was also honored by being chosen for special training on Parris Island in
conjunction with the Marines. While Joe did not talk about these things until late
in life, it was clear that the Army had marked him for advancement and certain
reenlistment.
However, Joe did not reenlist. He met Katie Yacques, a quintessential island girl,
petite firecracker, and mother of two young boys. Joe married Kate Connors on
November 26th, 1966, and adopted Damon and Eric. The couple had Andrea and
Kelly soon after. They raised their four children on the island, living in the same
house, making improvements, surviving family tragedies, and moving ever
forward. Joe was a man for whom failure was not an option. He instilled that
perseverance into his children, and instilled it gratefully remains. Joe and Kate left
lasting memories on the island and in Algonac, serving their community through
the Lions Club and through Algonac Baptist Church.
When Kate passed in 2021, Joe persevered, but was changed. For over fifty years,
it was always Joe and Kate, or Kate and Joe. It was tough for him after Kate
passed. As hard as it is for us, it is a blessing to know that he and Kate now reside
in their Father’s house in Heaven together, and that they may or may not
be…deciding vigorously…whether to watch PBS or Wheel of Fortune.
Joe was a man unlike many others. Joe could hunt, shoot, and fish at a high level,
but he didn’t spend time bragging about it. He brought home food for his family
with it. Joe was brilliant, but he didn’t care if anyone knew, and didn’t seem to
take any pride in it himself. He knew it was a gift and a tool. He used his brain to
move forward, advance in life, and find ways around problems in order to take care
of his family. Joe’s word was his bond, and Joe worked hard…always. When
others his age retired, Joe still did contract work as a CAD designer because he
liked to work. (He only stopped working when his younger contract contacts
retired.) Joe liked to be productive. His lawn was always “right.” Things were
always in order. He served his church honorably, and stood for what was right. He
caught a lot of pickerel, perch, muskie, and sunburns with lifelong friends who
miss him greatly. Discussing events in Sans Souci with the guys was important for
Dad, as was taking the family for boat rides. He really enjoyed the 454 in his last
big boat, and was willing to spend a little more on gas to fully appreciate the
throttle. His girls have inherited that gene.
Very importantly, Joe served on the Lions, most recently trying to pass on the
message that moneyed people coming in should not be allowed to turn the island
into something…common. The island was not ever meant to be convenient or
commercial. He knew that what made the island special needed to be preserved,
and that the people who have always lived on the island under the tacit rules of
relationship, individuality, and preservation of a unique way of life were the ones
who needed to be heard the most. His plea now would be that wise ears and minds
look around carefully, thinking, and “let” mainlanders keep mainlander
perspectives across the channel. He knew it was easy to dismiss older people as
just having a dated viewpoint, but Joe’s philosophy was based on eighty years of
looking at the world through a brilliant, conservationist, and analytical mind. Even
when it came to election ads and political arguments, Joe had the perfect response:
“Not interested. I prefer to do my own thinking.”
From a son or daughter’s perspective, Joe had high expectations, because the
Army came home with him and never left. However, Joe’s surviving children
would not be in the same good places in life without that training. Here are some
of the lessons, which were taught without discussion. These lessons were, by
example:
- Work first, then play. Always. Don’t complain about working.
- There is no men’s or women’s work. All are capable.
- When you make a fist, put your thumb on the outside. Use when necessary.
- Be curious. Try things. Make things. Learn things. Read. Watch PBS. Get
good grades. Go to college. - Take care of people who have less.
- Respect your elders, and honor what they would want you to do. This
includes retrieving interesting relatives for all major holidays. - Make sure the lines are straight when you mow.
- Listen to good music.
- Keep going. Win. Don’t quit.
10.Make things right with your mother before I get home from work. (That one
was very important. No one wanted Mom to talk to Dad about behavior.)
Translated for longer life lessons—fix it before dark. Don’t let things fester,
and learn to apologize quickly.
11.Learn to change a little. It’s okay to soften up and say “I love you” out loud.
12.Labatt Blue in the bottle is the correct beer. It is used for celebration and
consolation, depending on how the Tigers are playing.
13.The Tigers are playing. Hand over the remote.
It is with appreciation by the rest of the family that Andrea is honored for taking
care of both her father Joe and her mother Kate in the final years of their lives.
Many of our family stories start with Andrea, a doctorate nurse practitioner,
quickly understanding and intervening in the most difficult physical circumstances,
including performing CPR long after anyone else would quit. She is a family hero
in many ways. Mom and Dad both were present here on Earth close to an extra
year because Andrea has no quit…just like she was taught. We thank God for the
testimonies that resulted because Andrea truly understands how to be the hands and
feet of Jesus.
The family wants you to know how amazing Joe was here on Earth, and to know
how his strength was passed down to his children and grandchildren. He is an
example of the Lord’s goodness, and we want you to know he is still living, but at
a much better address up in Heaven. The Lord has prepared a place for him, and
we know He looked at Joe when he arrived and remembered him to be a good and
faithful servant. We pray to be looked upon the same way, and that you would take
time now to consider the Lord. If you don’t know Him already, He is just waiting
for your “yes.” Is there a better way to honor Joe than by following him as he has
followed Christ to Heaven?
Today is your day as well.
With love,
The Connors Family
To leave a message of comfort visit www.younggilbertfuneralhome.com
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