Connie J Chinlund

Connie J. Chinlund, 81 of Aledo, died Friday, September 22, 2023, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria. A celebration of life will be Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 12:00 PM at Messiah Lutheran Church, Aledo. Visitation is 2 hours prior to services, beginning at 10:00 AM. Private family burial will be in Aledo Cemetery, at a later date. Memorials may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church or the Living Water Via d Cristo. Speer Funeral Home, Aledo is assisting the family.

Connie Jane was born on December 16, 1941, to Virgil & Dorothy Jane (Paulsgrove) Appell from Galva. The family moved to Galesburg in 1952, where Connie enjoyed babysitting, working at the A&W Root Beer Stand, the Trading Post Grocery and Sears. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1960. Under her class picture it read “Laugh and the World Laughs with You”. She could be heard laughing all through life and always had a smile on her face. Connie enjoyed her high school classmates, and they went on many cruises together, including, the Caribbean, Mexican Riveria, Alaska, Nova Scotia and the Panama Canal.  

Connie met her soulmate, Francis Chinlund, at a National Luther League Convention in San Antonio in 1959. They were married on September 29, 1963, at the Galesburg First Lutheran Church. She was looking forward to their 60^th Wedding Anniversary this coming week.

After marriage, Connie worked for Mer-Roc FS until adopting two babies, Cory Francis in 1968 and Carrie Jane in 1971. The family lived and worked on the family farm. Connie became a leader for her kids 4-H Club, Peppy Partners and was Superintendent of the Hobby Department at the Mercer County Fair for many years. She also served on the first Mercer County Food Pantry Board and was active in the Messiah Lutheran Church, Via D Cristo and Relay for Life, having survived cancer since 1997.

Connie enjoyed her many vacations, camping and going to flea markets, where no one was a stranger. She was a big fan of Roy Rogers, since going to his movies in Galva as a young girl. She even got to meet and visit with him in 1988, a highlight of her life.

Connie is survived her her husband of 60 years, Fran; daughter, Carrie Alter; Grandchildren: Daniel and wife, Cassie; Donavan and wife, Sara; Victoria and Dalton; great-grandchildren: Jace, Willow, Charlotte, Waylon, Rayven and Tobias; a sister, Vickie Nixon and husband, Carl; several nieces, nephews and many cousins; sisters-in-law: Nancy Gerst and husband Melvin and Barbara Gerst.  Connie was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and son, Cory Chinlund.

Connie always said, “Life has been an adventure. Happy Trails till we meet again.”