James O. "Mac" McConnaughay, 86, of West Bend, passed away Friday, August 20, 2004 at the Cedar Lake Health Care Center, West Bend.
He was born on February 18, 1918 in Buford, IL to the late James M. and Mary (Nee Bowling) McConnaughay and at an early age moved with his family to Batavia, IL. After graduating from high school he attended business school at the University of Chicago.
Mac started working at St. Charles Kitchens in St. Charles, IL in the accounting department. He also was in the U.S. Army reserves and at the start of WW II was already on a transport ship bound for the Philippines which was then diverted to Australia. Mac remained in the pacific theater of operations in the Army for the duration of the war. Upon returning to Batavia he took up his job at St. Charles Kitchens and retired as comptroller in 1979.
On April 12, 1947 he was united in marriage to Edith Lundberg at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia, where they were members. Edith served as the church organist for 30 years. She preceded him in death on January 4, 1973.
On March 14, 1975 he was united in marriage to Margaret Schowalter-Steitz at Bethany Lutheran Church. Shortly there after they sold their home in Batavia and spent time at their summer home on Parker Lake near Oxford, WI and their winter home in Lake Worth, FL. They moved to Cedar Ridge in West Bend in 1998.
Mac had been an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia and was currently a member of Peace United Church of Christ in Kewaskum. He was a member of the National Accountants Association, Batavia V.F.W. Post # 6003, and was an active Boy Scout troop leader in Batavia for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; Four children, Susan (Larry) Frank of Normal, IL, Philip (Janet Murphy) McConnaughay of Mechanicsburg, PA, Jane (John) Yanagida of Mililani, HI, and Thomas (Kelly) McConnaughay of Peoria, IL; Two stepchildren, Dr. Jean Steitz of Memphis, TN, and William (Debra) Steitz of Honolulu, HI; Two sisters, Norma Lundberg of Batavia, IL, and Isabel Fisher of Boynton Beach, FL; Four brothers, Terry (Rocky) McConnaughay of Geneva, IL, Glen (Mary) McConnaughay of Geneva, IL, Paul (Lois) McConnaughay of Port St. Lucy, FL, and Ronnie McConnaughay of Batavia, IL; A sister-in-law, Rosemary McConnaughay of Geneva, IL; Two brothers-in-law, Rev. Curtis (Marjorie) Schowalter of West Bend, and Richard (Lynn) Schowalter of Hartland; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William.
A memorial service was held at Cedar Ridge on Sunday August 22 with Rev. Eric Kirkegaard of Peace United Church of Christ officiating. A memorial service will also be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia, IL on Tuesday August 24 at 5:00 p.m. with Rev. Jeff Fricke officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service. Mac's cremated remains will be buried in Pinelawn Memorial Park in Milwaukee.
Memorials to the Cedar Lake Health Care Center Alzheimer's Unit are appreciated.