Donald Connelly, 73, of Stone City, died Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at Northbrook Manor Care Center in Cedar Rapids.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, where the family will greet friends from 9:00 am to the time of service. Burial will be in Wilcox Cemetery, Viola, where military honors will be conducted by the Anamosa Veterans Honor Guard and the US Navy. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be shared with the family by using the " Guestbook " link located to the left.

Donald Lance Connelly was born August 17, 1946 in Anamosa, the son of Gerald and Mary (Strabala) Connelly. He attended Anamosa Community Schools and served his country in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He married Virginia Chapman in 1968. The couple made their home in Monticello and later divorced. He moved to Stone City a few years later and married Cathy Collman there in 1992. She died in 2001.

He was employed as a welder for FMC Link Belt Speeder in Cedar Rapids and later worked as a guard at the Iowa State Men's Reformatory in Anamosa. He was a member of the VFW and Drill Team in Monticello and enjoyed watching television, especially westerns and MASH, canoeing and fishing, driving old cars, riding motorcycles and cheering on the Broncos. He enjoyed a simple, quiet life.

He is survived by his children Angie (Kevin) Melsha, Cedar Rapids, Lance (Vivian) Connelly, San Ramon, CA, Amy (Kent) Zirtzman, Manchester and Joseph (Anna) Connelly, Grand Rapids, MN, grandchildren Trevor Melsha, Rylee Melsha, Isaac  Zirtzman, Olivia Zirtzman, Aidan Zirtzman, Samantha Connelly and Allison Connelly, his siblings Terry (Anita) Gingerich, Las Cruces, NM, Marylin (Paul) Sternick, Melbourne, FL and Mike (Michelle) Connelly, Loudon, TN, a sister-in-law Sue (Roger) Smith, Stone City, a very good friend Mike "Birddog" McCullough, Stone City and by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife Cathy, he was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Ken Collman.

The family would like to thank the staff at Above & Beyond Home Health Care, St. Luke's Hospice Care and Northbrook Manor Care Facility for the care they provided for Don.