Jerry Lee McConnell

Jerry Lee McConnell, 71, of New Philadelphia, went home to be with his Lord and Savior and to be reunited with his precious daughter, Jodi, early Monday morning, April 22, 2013 from Schoenbrunn Health Care at New Philadelphia following a period of declining health.

A son of the late Richard and Margaret (Baldwin) McConnell, Jerry was born May 7, 1941 at Dover, Ohio.

Jerry graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1959. That same year, he enlisted with the United States Navy and honorably served his country until his discharge in July of 1961.

He was a longtime employee of AK Steel, formerly known as Reeves Steel, retiring in 2000 after 38 years of service.

Jerry was a man of great faith and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church at New Philadelphia. He enjoyed the outdoors which usually included hunting and fishing, mowing his lawn and taking drives through the country side. Jerry also enjoyed sharing milk shakes with his granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife Alice (Cox) McConnell whom he married on August 20, 1962; his son-in-law, Ned Johnson of Sugarcreek; his granddaughter, Eileizia Johnson of Sugarcreek; a brother, Richard (Cathy) McConnell of New Philadelphia; a sister, Rebecca (Tom) Ferren of Dover; special friends who were like children to him, Chris Patterson, Karen Crall and Craig Fee; his beloved cat, Samantha and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and dear friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jodi Johnson; a brother and his wife, James and Sandy McConnell; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jesse and Opal (Gwinn) Cox; four brothers-in-law and 3 sisters-in-law.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Jerry’s life will be held in the funeral home on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Don Snow Chaplain James Scalf officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover where the New Philadelphia V.F.W. Post #1445 will render military honors. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Hospitality Room in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover.

Jerry’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Schoenbrunn Health Care as well as to Jessica Welch, Allison Burlison and Lori Laisure and the rest of the staff at Crossroads Hospice.

His wife can almost hear him saying to her, “Hey Alice, when it’s your turn to come home to heaven…”

Contributions may be made in Jerry’s memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 5410 Transportation Boulevard, Suite 5, Garfield Heights, OH 44125 or to Calvary Baptist Church, 1507 Oldtown Valley Road SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to Crossroads Hospice, 3743 Boettler Oaks Drive, Green, OH 44685.