Ruth Roselyn (Wilkinson) Connolly 1921-2004

CONNOLLY, WILKINSON, TRILK, KENNEDY, LIEGEL, FRANZWA, STREIF, WAGNER, BURDS, MELCHERT, HUBER

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 10/23/2019 at 20:07:30

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Friday, September 10, 2004

Ruth Roselyn (Wilkinson) Connolly, 83, of Sunnycrest Manor, formerly of 3391 Crescent Ridge, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at Sunnycrest Manor.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. John Placid Cemetery, Epworth, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Siegert-Casper Colonial Funeral Home, 390 N. Grandview Ave.

Mrs. Connolly worked at Allied Camera for 10 years, retiring at the age of 80.

She was born on Sept. 4, 1921, in rural Epworth, daughter of Robert and Nellie (Trilk) Wilkinson.

She married Joseph Aloysius Connolly on June 3, 1946, at St. John's Catholic Church, Placid, rural Epworth; he preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 2001. After her marriage, she farmed with her husband near Epworth until 1983, when they moved to Dubuque.

After graduating from Peosta High School in 1939, she attended summer school at the University of Dubuque to attain a teaching certificate and began teaching that fall at the age of 17.

She was a member of St. Anthony's Parish, the Dubuque Bowling League, Sunnycrest CARE Review Board and Area Residential Care Board.

She was a very active person who bowled three times a week and golfed twice per week. She also enjoyed going to the dog track, playing cards, arts and crafts, reading and visiting people in nursing homes. She volunteered many hours for organizations, especially those associated with the handicapped, including more than 20 years running the bingo program at Sunnycrest.

Her greatest joy was her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a beloved sister and aunt to many. She always had a positive attitude regardless of what life handed her. She will be greatly missed by many.

Surviving are six children, Carol Connolly, Helen (Leo) Kennedy and Mark Connolly, all of Dubuque, Gary (Julie) Connolly, of Epworth, Roger Connolly, of De Witt, Iowa, and Linda (Randy) Liegel, of Loganville, Wis.; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (Brad) Franzwa, Joe (Alana) Kennedy, Shannon Kennedy, Ann Kennedy, Kari Connolly, J.J. Connolly, Alicia Connolly, Melissa Liegel, Ryan Liegel and Tara Liegel; two great-grandchildren, Sydney Kennedy and Peyton Kennedy; a sister, Dawn Strief, of Dyersville, Iowa; a brother, Richard (Carmen) Burds, of Dubuque; a sister-in-law, Loyola Wagner, of Dubuque; three brothers-in-law, Wilbert (Marion) Connolly and Marvin (Betty) Connolly, both of Dubuque, and Frank (Ardella) Connolly, of Epworth; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and many very good friends.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Frank Burds; two sisters, Eleanor (Carl) Melchert and Jean (Merlin) Connolly; four sisters-in-law, Marie (Martin) Huber, Lorraine Connolly, Leola Connolly and Madonna Burds; and two brothers-in-law, Clem Wagner and Merril Strief.

The family would like to thank Dr. Garrett Ridgley, Dr. Mary Klix, Dr. Mark Hermann and the nurses and staff at Dubuque Internal Medicine, The Finley Hospital, Hospice and Sunnycrest Manor for the great care and many kindnesses shown to our mother and for granting her wish that everyone who visited her would come in with a smile and tell a joke.