Fern Connell

VISITATION:

1-3 p.m., Sunday, June 12 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

SERVICE:

3 p.m., Sunday, June 12 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

Fern L. Connell, 88, of Chippewa Falls, died Monday, June 6, 2016, at Dove Healthcare-Wissota Health and Regional Vent Center, surrounded by her family. She has gone home to meet her savior, Jesus Christ.

She was born March 30, 1928 to Joseph and Alice (Pierce) LaCoure. Her mother died two months before Fern turned three. Fern's greatest wish was to be reunited with her mother in heaven. At the age of five, she went to live with, and was raised by her aunt and uncle, Bessie and Frank LaCoure.

Always a hard worker, Fern worked at many different jobs, including the dime store, Chippewa Shoe Factory and as a telephone operator. She also worked as a waitress at several area supper clubs, including Van's and The Flame. Fern married James G. Connell on November 11, 1949. In 1961, they purchased Connell's Supper Club and successfully operated it for 25 years. Jim was the "front man" behind the bar, always greeting people with a smile, but Fern ran all the "behind the scenes" in the kitchen and dining room.

Fern always wanted to help and take care of others. She delivered Meals On Wheels, helped serve lunch to the Benedictine nuns at Wissota Lakeside, and was very caring towards those less fortunate, especially the neighbor kids who loved to come and visit her daily. She also had a great talent for gardening. Many will remember her beautiful flower gardens at the house on Jefferson Avenue. Her grandkids will always cherish her delicious meals and time at her house above Irvine Park.

Survivors include her children, Kathy (Larry) Dahl, Cindee (James) Appel, Mike (Cheryl) Connell, and Tricia (Jon) Marion of Marshfield, and a special "daughter", Fran (Don) Girard and her family; grandchildren, Amy (Matt) Fish, Bryan (Shanna) Dahl, Laura (Ross) Tuenge, Nathan Dahl, Matthew (Amy) Appel, Angela (Nick) Appel-Leisz, Katie (Bryan) Van Dreese, Bill Connell, Christopher, Jenika, Bryce and Luisa Marion; step-grandchildren, Melissa Ginder and Mark (Jen) Krumenauer; great-grandchildren, Myles, Lydia, Simon, Henry and Martha Fish, Kenna and Hailey Appel, Degan Dahl, Miah and Eversen Tuenge, and Marion Fern Leisz; step-great-grandchildren, Adisyn and Ava Ginder and Alexis and Brooklyn Krumenauer; several nieces and nephews, including special niece, Bonnie Shower. She is also survived by one sister-in-law, Skipper Rank.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim on November 22, 1995; parents, Alice and Joseph; aunt and uncle, Bessie and Frank; brother, Lester LaCoure; sister, Laura Sweeney; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Rae Appel.

Memorials will be directed to Irvine Park.

The family would like to sincerely thank the amazing Wissota Health staff for their exceptional, compassionate and loving care over the past eight months, as well as Dr. Paul Ippel and his staff for their extraordinary and loving care over the years.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, June 12 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of service Sunday at the funeral chapel.