Lynn McConnell

Lynn Louise (Chier) McConnell, a young 80, of Berlin, was peacefully called home to Heaven on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center -Neenah. Surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren, her prayers were answered as the Lord came for her quickly and reunited her with those she was longing for. Born March 25, 1945, in Berlin, WI, she was the daughter of Clifford and Dorothy (Inda) Chier. She attended St. Michael’s Catholic School and Berlin High School, a proud 1963 BHS graduate. A lifelong hard worker, she worked one summer at the Ripon Cookie Factory before taking a job at Speed Queen (Ripon) for two years. Life took her to California for a few years, and upon her return home she joined her family’s business, C. A. Chier Sand Co. Her true calling as a mother began in 1966, when she welcomed her first son, Jerry. Her second son, Jim, came in 1967, and daughter, Karen, in 1971. She worked from her parents’ Berlin home, until the Fairwater, WI plant got a telephone and she no longer had to drive orders to the plant. She assumed a dispatcher position with Fairwater Silica, which later became part of Badger Mining. It was in this role she met Pat McConnell, originally a company truck driver, then Badger’s transportation manager. Pat and Lynn married in 1979, in Green Lake, and became a family of five. Their family grew again in 1980 and 1981 when their daughters Patti and Mandi completed their family. In 1984, Pat and Lynn took a leap of faith and started their own trucking business, Fairwater Sand Transit, a three-truck operation which later would become Freight Lime and Sand Hauling, Inc. (FLASH). Lynn managed the office and dispatch functions out of their living room while Pat worked on the trucks and drove at night. Perseverance and dedication to their employees and customers built their family legacy into the successful FLASH Family of Companies that exists today. Customers knew they could call on Lynn to take care of them, never letting them down. Lynn was dedicated to the dispatch operation for ten years, answering calls through the night, carrying a handheld radio in her purse, and driving to the top of the cottage driveway to catch radio reception. She was the definition of hard work, and wrote the book on being a working, dedicated, involved mother. She proudly and excitedly went to work every day for forty-one years until her health kept her away. While she was dedicated to their business, she was even more dedicated to her family. Having her five children and their families together brought her the most joy. Moreover, she loved her nieces and nephews. Heartbroken to have lost her siblings, she held their children close to her heart. Lynn and Pat built a life on big family gatherings and supporting their family however they could. First as a mother, then as a grandmother, Lynn made it to as many games, concerts, school lunches, and church programs as she could. Lynn was blessed with a full and vibrant life. Early in their marriage she and Pat enjoyed snowmobile trips, late night card games with friends, and too many shenanigans to recount with siblings, cousins, and friends. Time at their family cottage, class reunions (sometimes twice a year!), cousins’ lunch, cards and dessert with her dear girlfriends, and Sunday night dinners at The Roxy were just a few of the bright spots on her social calendar later in life. If there was an opportunity to be with any family, she wouldn’t miss. Anyone that knew her knows her favorite pastime was the casino, an ironic hobby for someone so conservative and frugal. All those years of soaking UPCs off bottles and coupon clipping paid off! Lynn will be remembered for her kindness and welcoming nature. She treated her children’s friends as her own. Grateful for all their employees, she thought of them as family. She was a fiercely independent woman, never wanting to put anyone out or be a burden. As she fought through her decline these past few months, she was so thankful for everyone that stepped in to help. Lynn was preceded in death by her parents, Cliff and Dorothy Chier; brother and sister-in-law, Russ and Laura Chier; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and George Hess; and parents-in-law, Charlie and Monnine McConnell. She is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, Patrick McConnell; children Jerry (Mary Kramer) McConnell, Jim McConnell, Karen McConnell, Patti (Chris) Beuthin, and Mandi (Noah) Hinrichs; grandchildren Jade (Matt Clark) McConnell; Heather McConnell, Katie (Ben) Larson, Clifton (Corinne Madell) McConnell; Makenna (Paul Markowski) Murkley, Reece (Lacy Hackney) Murkley; Reagan, McKinley, Hayes, and Nixon Beuthin; Finn and Rori Hinrichs; great-grandchildren Kearston, Emily, Maddie, Camden, Kade, Brinley, Loretta, and Waylon. Thank you to the amazing care from Froedtert Milwaukee, West Bend, and Grace Clinic. A sincere Thank You to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center - Neenah, for their world class care and compassion in her final hours. Family and friends may visit with the family on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 9-11:00 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Parish of Berlin. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. with Monsignor James Gunn officiating, Private Burial at a later date Celebration of Life and Luncheon immediately following at Mastricola’s on Broadway, Berlin In lieu of flowers, please direct all donations to All Saints Regional Catholic School, PO Box 110, Berlin, WI 54923.

Lynn McConnell

March 25, 1945 - February 11, 2026