Rex A. McConnell
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Rex A. McConnell was born into the family of Carl and Eva McConnell on Dec. 18, 1931 and departed this world in profound joy and contentment on Dec. 15, 2020. He believed he was indebted to every human being on earth due to the grace of Jesus Christ. For 17 years his home was in Battle Creek, Michigan where he thoroughly enjoyed student life and graduated from high school as a member of the National Honor Society with varsity letters in three sports. He was blessed to hear the gospel of Christ as a young child and was first reconciled to God at age seven. At age seventeen God led him to enroll at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, where he "saw Jesus in shoes" and excelled in science. Twice he was elected president of his class and later as president of the student body. In his senior year he was accepted at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and at Wayne State University where he graduated with the M.D. degree in 1958. While at Asbury, Rex met Nancy Jane White from Detroit, and they were married on September 4, 1953. In 1950 at Asbury, God called Rex into the ministry, and this calling motivated his studies in medicine at Wayne State. In 1961, the practice of emergency medicine became a specialty for Dr. McConnell, and it served over 40 years God's plan for the ministry and church planting in Michigan and Kentucky. It also funded his missionary ministries in Jamaica, West Indies and Haiti. He was the founder and first pastor of the Marquette Missionary Church in 1967-1972. In 1981, Dr. McConnell was awarded the distinguished Alumni Award from Asbury College. The marriage of Rex and Nancy has been blessed of God with ten daughters (Marilynn, Shelley, Laurie, Julie, Janet, Amy, Stephanie, Anne, Kristi Kim and Sharon Rose) and five sons, (David, Mark, Stacey, Matthias and Andrew). There are presently 24 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Psalm 127 has been very directive for Rex and Nancy in their union of 67 years. All of his children by the mercy of God survive him. One sister, Pat Nichols, and one brother, Ted McConnell, survive him. A service of worship and thanksgiving is scheduled for 11 am Mon., Dec. 21 at Wilmore Free Methodist, 1200 Lexington Ave., Wilmore, KY 40390. Private family interment is planned for Wilmore Cemetery following the worship service. Dr. Scott Kisker from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH and Pastor Daryl Diddle will officiate. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Rd. handling arrangements.