Dean Connors

MADISON, Wis. - Dean Connors, 90, died Aug. 25, 2016.

Dean was born in Hurley, on July 30, 1926, the second of three sons of Harold and Velma Connors. Dean's parents were both teachers who gave Dean a lasting lesson in the importance of life-long education. Dean attended public schools in Hurley, and then entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1944 as a pre-med student. After an 18-month stint in the U.S. Army, he returned to the UW-Madison, graduating with his medical degree in 1952. In 1956, he married Charlotte Boynton, MD. They had two children, Susan and Dale.

After finishing a residency in pathology at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, in 1957 Dean was appointed as the first pathologist at St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander. In July of 1959, he and Charlotte returned with their children to Madison, where Dean began a 34-year career as chief pathologist and laboratory director at St. Mary's Hospital, retiring in October of 1993. In retirement, Dean found many interests, including a study of early Wisconsin history and restoring old historic buildings. In 1995, Dean opened the Foundry Book Store in Mineral Point, specializing in out-of-print Wisconsin history books, documents and maps. In 2001, because of failing health, he retired for a second time and returned to Madison to live, but continued a lively interest in history, now focused on the world of the ancients and its impact on Western Civilization.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan Connors and her spouse, Mary Jane Connors; grandchild, Alta Connors; and some very good friends, especially, Phil Roehrborn and Don Lamb.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Brian; his younger brother, Marion; and his son, Dale.

A time of sharing and remembrance will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of sharing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank donate.secondharvestmadison.org, Wisconsin Public Television, PO Box 7929, Madison, WI 53707-7929 or the Mineral Point Historical Society, PO Box 188, Mineral Point, WI 53565.

Please share memories at cressfuneralservice.com.