McConnell, Sidney Dale Obituary

McConnell, Sidney Dale was faculty at Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Mcconnell, Sidney Dale.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	Dec 09, 2013
About	Published: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 2:20 PM PST in the Elk Grove Citizen Memorial services for Sidney Dale McConnell, who died Dec. 9, 2013, will take place Saturday, Feb. 8 at noon at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 8701 Elk Grove-Florin Road. A luncheon for family and friends will follow the service. Sid McConnell was a longtime coach at Joseph Kerr Middle School and Elk Grove High School, and originated Pop Warner (youth football) in Elk Grove. He was born May 16, 1933 in Traer, Iowa. Private services were held with interment in the National Cemetery at Dixon. Remembrances may be made to the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 2021, Elk Grove, CA 95759 where a scholarship in his memory is being set up. A complete obituary of Sid McConnell’s life will appear in the Feb. 5, 2014 issue of the Elk Grove Citizen. After a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease, longtime Elk Grove coach Sidney McConnell died in the early hours of December 9, 2013. His loving wife of 58 years, June was at his side. Sidney was born in Traer, Iowa on May 16, 1933 to Wayne & Ruby McConnell. He attended high school in Traer, Iowa where he lettered in all sports and exhibition diving; in 1951 he attended Tarkio College in Missouri on a football scholarship. He returned to Iowa and attended Upper Iowa Univ. for a year until he enlisted in the Army. Sid received training in guided missiles & nuclear weapons and tested missiles at White Sands proving grounds in Las Cruces, NM. While stationed at Fort Bliss, TX, Sid met the love of his life, June, who he married on February 16, 1955 in Alamogordo, NM. After serving in the Army, Sid returned to Iowa and continued his education at Upper Iowa Univ., attending school on the GI Bill. He taught swimming & managed the college pool, eventually earning his teaching credential and B.S. in 1958. Sid & June moved to Rockwell, IA where he taught & coached boys' base- ball, basketball, and girls' softball. Sid's basketball team, the 'Rough Riders,' was the first team from Rockwell, IA to go to the State Tournament. They placed second in the North Star Conference. While teaching & coaching, Sid furthered his studies in P.E. and Social Studies at the Univ. of Iowa, earning his Master's 1962. Sidney and family moved to Elk Grove, CA in 1962, and Sid began his teaching career for the EGUSD. In 1964, he set up the P.E. program for Joseph Kerr Jr. High, as well as coaching track, wrestling, basketball, football and baseball. In 1977, Sid transferred to E.G. High School where he taught P.E. & coached football as a defensive coordinator and baseball until he retired in 1998. Sid loved to serve the community. In 1965, he established Pop Warner football in Elk Grove. Sid's team, known as the 'Elk Grove Knights' was the first youth football team in Elk Grove. After finishing 2nd place the first year, Sid's 'Elk Grove Knights' went undefeated in league play for four straight years. He also umpired for Little League games, and was very active in the Elk Grove Jaycee's Club participating in many community projects benefiting Elk Grove. Sid was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and held, during his life, every office in the organization. Sid was patriotic and proud to be an American. Over the years, he worked on projects with Pete Wilson, George Deukmejian, Ronald Reagan and other national leaders. He was a state representative and sergeant-at-arms at conventions of the Republican Party. Sid adored his family; he was a wonderful husband to June, the love of his life, for over 58 years. Sid is survived by June, and their children Donald McConnell (Debbie), John McConnell and Katherine Chastain (Scott); grandchildren Kyle and Chelsea Molina, Colton Chastain, Nicholas McConnell (Megan) Karli, Christy, and Kylee McConnell; great grandchildren Walker and Mackenzie McConnell. Memorial services will take place Saturday, Feb. 8 at noon at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 8701 Elk Grove-Florin Road. A luncheon for family and friends will follow the service. Remembrances may be made to the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 2021, Elk Grove, CA 95759 where a scholarship in his memory is being set up. - Information from the Sacramento Bee