Nanette J. Connor

Nan was born in Minneapolis on May 30th, 1947 to Ralph and Dorothy Swanson. Nan talked often about growing up in Minneapolis in the 1950s, having many cousins nearby and spending time with her grandparents Angus and Gertrude Swerdfiger.

As a young girl, Nan skated in several ice carnivals with the Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis. She graduated from Washburn High School in 1965. Nan worked as a cashier at Love’s Bakery on 43rd and Bryant after school and on Saturdays. After high school, Nan began attending the University of Minnesota and moved on from the bakery to working as a cashier at Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis. Inspired in part by her father, Nan obtained her pilot’s license and flew her first solo flight on her sixteenth birthday. A parachute jump followed a few years later.

While studying for a degree in English and a career as a teacher, she took a train with classmates to Chicago to attend a series of plays arranged by the U of M English department. During the trip she met Bob, who also traveled to Chicago by train that week to cheer on his college, St. John’s, in basketball. They soon married. Nan travelled with Bob to Ft. Lewis, Washington where she gave birth to their son David. Bob was deployed to Vietnam and Nan returned to Minneapolis to complete her degree. Mark was born and Nan began a short career teaching at St. Columba in St. Paul and as a substitute teacher for the St. Paul school district. St. Paul became her home. Nan began working as an information officer, first for the St. Paul Department of Emergency Management, then for Como Zoo. Nan became a local television celebrity appearing on local children’s shows including Casey Jones, Clancy and Willie and Carmen the Nurse. Nan’s co-stars were some of the animals from Como Zoo including the famous lion “Otis the cat.” The morning shows would air cartoons and Nan was an occasional guest, who in between episodes of the Little Rascals and Bugs Bunny, would appear with small animals from the zoo. Nan also made many appearances in schools and playgrounds, bringing the zoo animals out into the community. When David and Mark’s cub scout den appeared on Clancy and Willie, Nan, who somehow found the time to be the den leader, made sure her boys received a special on-air introduction.

Not one to stand still, Nan made the decision to attend law school while in her thirties. She worked full time and earned her law degree in 1985, a time when the world was not as welcoming to women attorneys. While in law school, Nan worked for St. Paul Planning and Economic Development and after attaining her law license, worked as a committee administrator for the Minnesota Senate, a compliance officer for the Minnesota Gambling Control Board, executive director of the Northeast Neighborhood Development Corporation and a hearing officer with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Nan retired and enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Although living in St. Paul for quite some time, during retirement, Nan enjoyed touring and learning about her paternal grandfather’s home on historic Milwaukee Avenue in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. Nan travelled the world with Bob including Europe, Australia, China, Japan and countless other places both near and far. Nan loved reading, especially mysteries. Both Nan and Bob were avid movie goers and caught the eye of the local movie reviewer, who featured them in the Pioneer Press as seasoned pros on the Twin Cities cinema scene, attending hundreds of special showings and sneak previews over the years.

Nan tried to attend all of her grandchildren’s events and was proud of making one last wrestling meet to watch Liam pin his opponent earlier this year. Nan loved her family and enjoyed her yearly visits with Annette and Coralyn. She enjoyed hearing about all her nieces and nephews as well as their children. Nan maintained a large circle of friends including many of Bob’s childhood and school friends, friends from her many jobs, friends from St. Pascal Baylon and many neighbors in the St. Paul Battle Creek community.

Later in life, Nan was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a genetic condition. She maintained a positive attitude as the disease caused her body to fail. In late March, Nan entered the hospital with complications from the disease, and the doctors started using the term end stage heart failure. The doctors advised Nan’s family in early April that she likely would not survive the hospital stay. Nan proved the doctors wrong and was able to get back home for nearly six months. Nan was happy to spend her last days in her home. On October 22, Nan died peacefully in her home with her son Mark at her side.

Nan was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Robert “Bob” Connor and her father and mother Ralph and Dorothy Swanson. Nan is survived by sons David (Kellie) and Mark, grandchildren Liam and Caroline, sisters Annette and Coralyn, nieces and nephews Alexius, Brandon, Nicholas, Becca, John, Becky, Mike, Christine and Jennifer.

A visitation will occur on Sunday October 29th at Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Ave, St. Paul from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church, 1757 Conway Ave, St. Paul at 10:00 a.m. on Monday October 30th with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m..