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OHIO – David Glen “Dave” Conner, 65, of Ohio, died at 1:02 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Dave had just underwent successful open-heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm, when he was taken by a pulmonary embolism, while still at the hospital.
He was born Jan. 10, 1952, at KSB Hospital in Dixon, the son of Edward “Ted” and Sue (Parker) Conner. He lived in Walnut until he married Kathleen “Kat” Ohda on Aug. 12, 1978, at Walnut United Methodist Church. She survives in Ohio. Dave graduated in 1970 from Walnut Community Consolidated High School.
He worked as a milkman’s assistant for Leafy Lane Dairy when in grade school. After high school, he worked for Frank’s Sales and Service of Normandy, Swanson’s Trucking, Pruitt Trucking, Ohio Home Oil, Dant’s Harley Davidson, and R.C. Ohda Farm Equipment. He retired from Schoff’s Farm Service in 2017.
He was a member of the Ohio Fire Department for 34 years, ABATE of Illinois Inc. since 1986, and a sustaining member of Motorcycle Rights Foundation. Dave loved motorcycles, old cars, Minneapolis Moline tractors and semis, and was a Green Bay Packers fan.
Dave never met anyone he couldn’t make laugh. He was a master of one-liners, guaranteed to make you walk around with a smile the rest of the day. Dave had many nicknames during the years, but the one that stuck the best was “Fire Marshal Dave” from the “In Living Color” show.
Also surviving are four siblings, Dan (Moe) Conner of Walnut, Darcy (Jim Jones) Conner of Tucson, Arizona, Dawn Conner of Dixon, and Darren (Sharon) Conner of Tucson; seven nieces and nephews, Sara, Jason, and Jessica Conner, Royal Dawson, Lisa (Nate) Gage, Jason Ohda, and Alex Devine; and six great-nieces and great-nephews, Clare and Alice Conner, Jenalee, Addison, Jackson, and Avrielle Ohda.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home in Princeton. A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at Green River Country Club in Walnut. Wear casual dress to both events. Burial will be at at a later date at Union Cemetery in Ohio. Grant-Johnson Funeral Home in Princeton is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to Ohio Fire Department or ABATE of Illinois Inc., 311 E. Main St. Suite 418, Galesburg, IL 61401.