REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Fr. Robert V. Connolly
1921-2002

[Obituary from La Crosse Tribune, Friday, 22 March 2002]

LA CROSSE/DARLINGTON, Wis. - Fr. Robert V. Connolly, 80, of La Crosse died on Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse. He was born April 16, 1921, in Kendall Township, Wis., to James A. and Mary A. (Deery) Connolly. He was ordained for the Diocese of La Crosse, Sept. 29, 1945, at St. John's Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wis., by Archbishop Kiley, D.D. His first solemn Mass was on Oct. 4, 1945, in Darlington. Fr. Connolly served in the following parishes for the La Crosse Diocese: SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Wisconsin Rapids from 1945-47, St. James Parish in Wausau from 1947-53, St. Francis Parish in Ellsworth from 1953-54, St. Patrick's Parish in Eau Claire in 1954, St. Francis Parish in Necedah from 1954-56, Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire from 1956-59, St. Augustine Parish in Norwalk from 1959-65, St. John's Parish in La Crosse from 1965-68,
St. Anthony's Parish in Augusta from 1968-69, St. Benedict's Hospital in Durand in 1969, St. Lawrence Parish in Alma from 1970-1992.

Fr. Connolly is survived by his brother, Charles Connolly of Chippewa Falls; his housekeeper and loyal friend, Jeanette Kramer of La Crosse; his sister-in-law, Arlene Connolly of Darlington; his nieces and nephews: Mary (William) Brunstad of Chippewa Falls, Michael (Dee) Connolly of Monroe, James Connolly of Griffiths, Ind., Colleen Martin of Richland Center, Kay (John) Paulson of Edgerton; and several great nieces, nephews and friends.

The family takes this opportunity to thank Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for the great and wonderful care to Fr. Connolly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, James, Hugh Francis and Joseph Connolly; a sister in infancy; and his sister-in-law, Ethel Connolly.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2002, at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse, with the Most Rev. Bishop Raymond L. Burke officiating and Father Henry Hoerburger as homilist. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Cemetery in Darlington. Friends may call after 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2002, at the Cathedral until time of Mass.

Also a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2002, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington with Fr. Thomas Kelley officiating. Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. until time of Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington. The Steil Camacho Funeral Home in Darlington, and the Blaschke Funeral Home in La Crosse, are assisting the family.

Memorials may be sent to the Steil Camacho Funeral Home, 206 E. Harriet St., Darlington, Wis.

Sep 1, 1985 - 40th Jubilee
Fathers, Peters, Connelly & Henry

"May we all pray for vocations to the priesthood, that perhaps one day St. Lawrence Parish might be the scene of the ordinatino of another priest within 26 years or less."

Reflection on Fr. Charles Stoetzel's Ordination
from bulletin of July 18, 1980

40th Anniversary  - Sept 1, 1985 at Alma
Fr. Roy Peters, Fr. Robert Connolly, Fr. Bernard Henry


Invocation at Alma City Hall Dedication, Feb 1988

35th Jubilee Program in 1980


Golden Jubilee Cake 1995