Lt. Col. Gary P. Connell
- February 1, 1998

Lt. Col. Gary P. Connell, 42, a dentist who served in the Army for 17 years, died Feb. 1, in San Antonio, after undergoing brain surgery for an aneurysm.

Col. Connell was born and raised in McHenry but had been stationed for the last year and a half in Eagle River, Alaska. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike and camp. A graduate of McHenry High School, he received undergraduate and dental degrees from Loyola University Chicago. Col. Connell joined the Army through his college ROTC program and became a commissioned officer in 1978. Col. Connell provided dental care to members of the military at bases around the country and in Frankfurt, Germany. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Eagle River. He also was involved with the Boy Scouts and his sons' baseball teams.

Col. Connell is survived by his wife of 19 years, Taina; sons, Gary Steven, Jason Matthew, and Brian James; parents, John Sr. and Marjorie Connell; three brothers and four sisters.

Visitation will be held Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. in Peter M. Justen Colonial Funeral Home, 3807 W. Elm St., McHenry. A mass will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3500 W. Washington, McHenry.