Mildred Rau Conner

TOWER HILL - Mildred Rau Conner, 97, of Tower Hill, died Sunday in Shelby Memorial Hospital, Shelbyville. Mrs. Conner was born March 3, 1910 in Tower Hill, the second daughter of Charles & Louise Munzenmaier Rau. She was a 1926 graduate of Pana Township High School, & received her teaching certificate from Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College in 1928. She held a bachelor's & master's degree in education from the University of Illinois, & taught in the Christian & Shelby County school systems for 13 years. She married Staff Sgt. 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 & 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 also a Women's Church Guild member; active in Sunday school work, including organizing the Faithful Follower's class for young people; RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) member for 21 years, which is now Shelbyville Olivewood Healthcare Center; Shelby County Farm Bureau member & Tower Hill Women's Club member. Mrs. Conner delighted in the great outdoors, gardening, yard work, & was an avid fan of U of I football & basketball games. Surviving are son, Jim & 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; & five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 brother, 2 sisters, & 2 brothers-in-law. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Dollville. Mrs. Conner willed her body to the University of Illinois Medical School. A celebration of life service will be Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Hibbett officiating. Visitation will be from 1-2pm & following the service on Saturday, September 15, 2007 in the funeral home. Light a virtual candle or send condolences to the family at www.mdfh.com. Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp