Conita "Connie"

J. Hollenbeck

Conita "Connie" Joan Hollenbeck, 84, of O'Neill, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a rosary.

Funeral services will be held at 10"30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill.

Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill.

  Memorials may be made to the O'Neill Ministerial Association, Attn: Pastor Durre, 204 N 7th St, O'Neill, NE 68763, in Connie's name.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of daughter, wife, mom and grandma Conita Joan (Bazelman) Hollenbeck. She was welcomed into this world on Dec. 31, 1939, and left to join our Lord on Jan. 1, 2024.  

Born at home, Connie was the pride and joy and only child of Joseph and Winifred (Reed) Bazelman. Her father would eventually build a home next door and they would live there until Connie was married with her own family and moved back into the other house for close to 60 years. In 1957, Connie graduated salutatorian from Saint Mary's High School in O'Neill.  

She had prayerfully contemplated being a Catholic nun before deciding the desire to be a mother was the path God had chosen for her.  She went on to earn her certificate from Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska and went on to work for Northern Natural Gas.  

On Aug. 23, 1958, Connie married John "Jack" Hollenbeck, a local boy who was serving in the U.S. Army.  After a brief honeymoon, Connie would move with Jack to Fort Campbell, KY where they remained until Jack's time in the Army was complete. 

In 1959, they moved back to Nebraska where they took residence for a short time in Wahoo. It wouldn't be long until they made their way back to O'Neill where Jack started his career at NPPD.   

Connie's ability to be a mother was brought to a halt when she discovered natural born children could not be a part of her plan.  She and Jack would start their adoption journey and in 1968 they brought home a son Todd and in 1973 they brought home a daughter,Monica.  

Over the next 70 years of her life, Connie would work for M&R Distributing, she started Connie's Clip and Dip Dog Grooming, served as the Northeast Nebraska Adult Basic Education Coordinator through NECC, and then rounded out her working career as the manager of Shannon Apartments in O'Neill.  

Connie's most impactful achievements came in the form of being a devoted Catholic, stay-at-home mother, and giving her time and care to her family, friends, church and community.  Family was immensely important to Connie, and she spent much of her free time making connections and plans with her cousins so lifelong communication between family would remain. Family and prayer remained the backbone of everything Connie cherished.  

Several hobbies occupied her time over the years including painting, calligraphy and traveling to spend time with her children and grandchildren.  

In 2016, her time doing what she loved was changed forever after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Over the following eight years, Connie would reside in the Good Samaritan Home, The Evergreen, Country Lane and at last, Arbor Care Center of O'Neill.

Connie is survived by her husband of 65 years Jack Hollenbeck, her son Todd Hollenbeck of Lincoln, her daughter Monica (Andrew) Huber of O'Neill and her two granddaughters Winnie and Lily Huber.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother Joseph and Winifred (Reed) Bazelman.