Connie J. Rhoades

Connie Rhoades, age 79, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, March 15, 2026, at Wells Nature View Assisted Living where she had resided for the past year. Connie was surrounded by family in her final days and entered eternal life in the middle of a blizzard.

Connie Jean McKinnis was born on May 8, 1946, to Doris (Uttermark) and James McKinnis in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Following her parents’ divorce, she returned to her mother’s hometown of Sebeka, MN in 1949. Her mother was remarried to Wayne Grant in 1952, and Connie gained a stepbrother, Kenny, and two sisters, Laura and Debra, who were later born. Connie met Jerry Rhoades in high school, and they began their life together. They were married and started a family at a young age, and were blessed with a daughter, Jennifer, and three sons Jeffrey, James, and Joel. Connie and Jerry celebrated 58 years of marriage prior to Jerry’s death in 2021.

Connie and Jerry moved to Marshfield in 1969 for Jerry’s job. She worked as a cashier at Karau’s Warehouse, the local grocery store, for 18 years, making lasting friendships with several co-workers and customers. Connie and Jerry had a large group of close friends and looked forward to monthly dinners out with them. She and Jerry moved to Spencer in 2013, enjoying their quiet home with a large yard filled with flowers, birds, squirrels, and deer.

Connie was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield. She was an avid bowler in her younger years and also enjoyed playing cards, trips to the casino, traveling to new places on Jerry’s work trips, going to shows in Branson, pontoon rides at the cabin, caring for her many plants, growing a vegetable garden, going out to eat, and watching sports, especially the Packers, Bucks, or any NBA team. Connie was a dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She never missed her children’s activities. Connie and Jerry frequently travelled to their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities, as well, and spent quality time with them, creating lasting memories. Everyone that knew Connie, knew that her favorite conversations were ones about her family and how proud she was of them.

The past 8 years took a toll on Connie, losing her son, Jeff, in 2018, her mother in 2020, and Jerry in 2021. Moving from her home into assisted living in 2025 due to dementia was also difficult, but she enjoyed being around people.

Connie is survived by her daughter, Jenny (Randy) Kohls; sons Jim and Joel (Jackie) Rhoades; grandchildren, Holly (Kyle), Trevor (Amanda), Seth and Rece; great-grandchildren, Addisyn and Bennett; sisters, Laura Murray and Deb (Markus) Wehlert; sister and brother-in laws, Barb Brunes and Dick (Margaret) Rhoades; mother of Holly and Trever, Julee Hahn; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her son, Jeff; her parents, James McKinnis and Doris and Wayne Grant; her mother and father-in-law, Harry and Almira Rhoades; her stepbrother, Kenny Grant; her brother-in-laws, Bruce Brunes and Doug Lilienthal; her nephew, Joshua Kangas; and her great-nephew, Zachary Brunes.

The family wishes to thank Wells Nature View Assisted Living staff, especially Patti, and Heartland Hospice, especially Miranda and Julie, for their kindness, patience, and care, especially these past few weeks.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 1010 E Veterans Parkway in Marshfield. A time of visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Refreshments and snacks will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider planting flowers or a tree this spring in Connie’s memory or making a donation to Wells Nature View Assisted Living, 2711 S Apple Avenue, Marshfield 54449, or Heartland Hospice, 3233A Business Park Drive, Suite 203, Stevens Point, WI 54482 in memory of Connie.

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