Stanley Thomas "Tom" Connell

Stanley Thomas Connell, of Altoona, Iowa, was born November 12, 1958, in Richfield, Minnesota, to Stan and Lorna (Shikoski) Connell. He passed from this life, surrounded by the family who loved him so dearly, on November 6, 2023. He was named Stanley after his father, grandfather, and maternal great-grandfather. He was called Tom, after his maternal great-grandfather. Growing up in the grocery business, the family moved many times throughout the Midwest until Stan purchased the Chariton, Iowa, Super Value in 1968. Tom graduated from Chariton High School in 1976, where he was active in sports and vocal music. He attended the University of Iowa for one year and graduated from AIB College of Business with a degree in accounting and computer programming. On October 21, 1978, he married the love of his life, Karen, and they celebrated 45 years of marriage. From a young age, he loved working alongside his dad in the grocery store and spent many years working in the grocery industry. In 2000, he became a certified residential real estate appraiser and founded Connell Appraisal.
Tom spent his life for God, family, country, church, and community. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a Youth-For-Christ rally at the University of Iowa. He was a devoted family man. He loved attending all of his sons' and grandchildren's activities. He coached many of his sons' sports teams. Tom was able to touch 100's of boys' lives through coaching little league baseball from 1989-1999, AAU basketball, and was the head tennis coach for Eldora New Providence from 1996-2004.
Tom was a warrior against Primary Lateral Sclerosis and when he was confined to a wheelchair, he began writing. He penned poems, songs, a children's book, and an adventure novel. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who never met a stranger.
Surviving Tom are his wife, Karen; his sons and their wives, Stanley Joseph (Joe) and Michelle; Dr. Matthew and Dr. Clara; Andrew and Lisa; and Tim and Kirby; his 11 beautiful grandchildren who were the light of his life, Stanley William "Will", Jacob, Kaitlyn, Lucas, Noah, Harrison, Kennedy, Caroline, Mason, Bailey, and Grace; his sisters and their husbands, Michelle and Dave Nylen, and Kathy and Nick Steinbach; his mother-in-law and step father-in-law, Wretha and Dale Rumple; his sisters-in-law and their husbands, Karla and Delbert Longley and Karol and Randy Johnston; along with many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Lorna Connell; infant grandsons, Kieran Thomas, Stanley Pike, and Jeffrey Thomas; and his father-in-law, Dean Besco.
Services for Tom will be held at Soteria Church, 3250 SE Soteria Ave, West Des Moines, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, followed by burial in the Chariton, Iowa Cemetery. Memorials may be directed in his honor to the church he loved, Soteria Church. A visitation with the family present will take place at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa on Friday, November 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.