Patrick John Connors Jr.

Patrick J. Connors, Jr., aged 82, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Audubon, IA, after suffering for several years from Lewy Body Dementia. Pat was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 17, 1941, to Patrick J. Connors, Sr. and Florence M. (Flach) Connors. He graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1959, and attended Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.

In 1961 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. During the Vietnam War, he was a senior air crew member with several thousand flying hours as a crew member on-board reconnaissance aircraft. After returning from Vietnam, he received an Associate Degree in Communications Processing Management in 1978, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 1982. In addition to numerous technical schools, Pat graduated from the Alaskan Air Command Noncommissioned Leadership School, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska in 1966, the United States Air Force Security Service Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas in 1977, and the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy, military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Pat spent nine months at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s basic Russian Language School, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, and then attended technical training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. Following assignments to Zweibrucken, Germany, and Northeast Cape Air Station, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, Pat returned to Syracuse for intermediate Russian language training. An assignment to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska was followed by Hungarian language training at the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California.

Pat met his wife of 52 years, Nila J. Scarf, in 1971 while he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. They were married on June 24, 1972, and had two daughters, Jennifer and Kristin. Two assignments flying RC-135 aircraft from Offutt AFB, Nebraska were separated by a long tour at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan. In 1978, Pat and his family were assigned to the U.S. Embassy, Moscow, U.S.S.R. in the Defense Attache System. They then returned to the United States and spent three years at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Two additional assignments in the Attache System, one in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and one in Ottawa, Canada were preceded by Serbo-Croation language training at the Department of State Foreign Service Institute in Washington D.C. From Canada, Chief Connors was transferred to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming where he retired on August 1, 1991.

His military decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Air Force Overseas Ribbon – short, the Air Force Overseas Ribbon – long with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Longevity Service Aware Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, the USAF Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Training Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

During Pat’s Air Force career, he and his family traveled the world and made many friends that they still have today.
After retiring from the Air Force, Pat became a United States Postal Worker for 13 years. Pat enjoyed golfing, skiing, fishing, tennis, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, and visiting and spending time with family in Pennsylvania and Iowa any time he and his family were stateside and after retirement. In addition, he loved animals and enjoyed interacting and spending time with his Morgan horse Kahlua’s Pride, otherwise known as “Beans,” along with the numerous dogs and cats who were part of the family over the years.

Pat is survived by his wife Nila, daughter Jennifer L. Boyd (Wesley), daughter Kristin H. Roshong (Rocco), grandchildren Mikaela D. Connors, Robyn A. Boyd and Aaron Z. Boyd, sister-in-law Karen Connors, brother-in-law David Scarf, sister-in-law Joyce Scarf, and several nieces and nephews. Pat is preceded in death by his father Patrick J. Connors, Sr., mother Florence Connors, brother Thomas L. Connors, father-in-law Robert Scarf, mother-in-law Pearl Scarf, brother-in-law Howard Scarf, sister-in-law Kathleen Scarf, and brother-in-law Merlin Scarf.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday May 22, 2024, at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa with Rev. Garry DeGeest officiating. Burial will follow with Full Military honors that will be rendered by the Offutt Air Force Personal at the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, IA. Visitation with the family present will be from 9 AM until the time of services at 11 AM at the Funeral Home. Following the burial, lunch will be served at the funeral home. Memorials can be made in his honor to LBDA (Lewy Body Dementia Association) and can be left or mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 523 – Atlantic, IA 50022