Michael Conner

Conner, Michael Kenneth, 68 of Ocala passed January 2, 2017. Michael was born March 2, 1948 in Oelwein, Iowa to Kenneth and Dorothy Conner and, Florida. He was the eldest of five children and spent his formative years in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Michael graduated from Starmont High School in 1966 and went on to the University of North Dakota as a two sport athlete. Michael was a quarterback for "The Fighting Sioux" and was affectionately referred to as "Big Mike Conner" or "Strawberry", due to standing over 6'4'' tall and hailing from the small town of Strawberry Point, Iowa. Following college, Michael played in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. He went on to play in the World Football League for the Chicago Fire and then finally for the Michiana Thunderhawks. It should be noted that he was left handed, and as anyone who knew him would tell you, could shoot and pass effectively with both his left and right hand. Michael lived in South, Florida for almost all his adult life and was easy to spot in an IROC or his signature red corvette. He was a voracious reader of books and periodicals. He was an Iowa Hawkeye fan, a fiscal conservative, social liberal and unknowing feminist, who if he had been well enough to vote would to the chagrin of his daughters have more than likely voted for Donald Trump in the last election. He leaves behind a legacy of youth (now not so youthful) that he coached and mentored no matter what their race, religion, gender, age or back ground in multiple sports. It should also be noted he was a cat person more than a dog person, but had participated in many turtle crossing rescues throughout his life and stayed active until the very end. He leaves behind three children, Erin Marie Conner Howe, Tara Beth Conner and Jake Michael Brewer-Keating, three siblings, Sharon Vinson, Robert Conner, and Douglas Conner, and four grandchildren, Marlee Keating, Teaghan Howe, Ava Howe, and Hudson Keating, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is pre deceased by his baby sister, Lisa Burkhardt and father and mother. He was married on St. Patrick's day 1976 to Kathleen Elizabeth Rouse Conner, both wore kelly green including a pair of green Chuck Taylor's worn by Michael. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 14th, 2017 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church at 11am. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease. http://ctrnd.med.ufl.edu/support-us/orwww.uff.ufl.edu/OnlineGiving/FundDetail.asp?Fund Code=017383 Checks can also be mailed to: UF FoundationP.O. Box 100243Gainesville, FL 32610 (CTRND Fund # G017383 must be noted on the check)

Michael Conner

March 2, 1948 - January 2, 2017