Joseph R. Connell

Joe Connell, 20, of Connersville, died early Wednesday morning, September 28, 2011, as result of an auto accident on SR 44W. Joe was born in Connersville, January 5, 1991, to Dean and Emily Lohrey Connell. In 2009, he graduated from Connersville High School where he played football and also took machining class at the Whitewater Technical Career Center. Joe was currently employed at E & B Paving, based in Anderson and had worked at Power Rail Manufacturing in Connersville. He was a member of the Laborers International Union of North America, Local 274. He loved racing cars and motorcycles. Joe is survived by his Mother and step-Father; Emily and Sam Caldwell of Connersville; his Father: Dean Connell of Connersville; a sister: Carrie Kunkel Sheets and her husband, Greg of Ft. Wayne; a niece; Norah Sheets; his maternal grandparents: Joan and Ray Lohrey of Brookville; his maternal great-grandmother: Virginia D. Pennington of Brookville; his girlfriend: Samantha McFarland of Connersville; two step-sisters: Samantha and Tabitha Caldwell, both of Brookville; aunts and uncles: Michael and Reneé Connell, Irene Green, all of Connersville, Tim and Sue Lohrey, Richard and Micki Strohmier, all of Brookville, Susie and Andy Stirn of Batesville; several cousins and many friends. Joe was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents: Joseph and Lora Connell and his maternal great-grandmother: Roberta Tressler. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Rev. Curtis Bond of the Brookville United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday where memorial contributions may be made to the Whitewater Technical Career Center Student Activities Fund. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.