Obituary for James Conner

On August 25, 1948 James Peter Conner was born to Robert and Carol (Rovik) Conner in Pennsylvania. Jim grew up in Minnesota, then moved to Michigan for work and later started a family with his ex-wife Pam. After retirement Jim moved to Indiana, where he met and shared the last 13 years enjoying life with his partner Jinnie Smith in before they moved back to their home state of Minnesota.

Jim passed away on Monday, October 9, 2023 at home in Brooklyn Center, MN under hospice care following a battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Preceding him in passing were his parents, brother-in-law John Schmit, and his son, David Conner.

Jim was formerly employed and retired from the City of Buchanan after over 40 years of combined service at the Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Department.

Jim was energetic, could (and would) fix anything. His enthusiasm for life was captivating and uplifting. His sense of humor was sly, sometimes unexpected, and he always laughed at Jinnie’s jokes. There wasn’t a person that Jim couldn’t strike up a conversation with.

Jim is survived by his partner: Jinnie Smith; children from Michigan: Debbie (Todd) Hogue, Jennifer (Marty) Conner, Rob (JoJo Barnes) Conner, and Ben Conner; grandchildren from Michigan: Katelyn (Nicole) Hogue, and Lauren Hogue; siblings from Minnesota: Susan (Mark) Hervey, Willy Conner, and Kelly Schmit; and sister Linda (Jerry) Jerman from Arizona.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11AM at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center. Visitation one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Shema Homecare LLC, 5027 Greenwood Avenue, Rockford, MN 55373 in memory of Jim Conner. The family appreciates all that this hospice team did to take care of Jim and Jinnie during his last month of life.