Gerald F. (Jerry) Connelly passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Season's Hospice. He was born on June 21, 1937, in Rochester to Paul and Myrle Connelly and was the oldest of nine children. He graduated from Lourdes High School in 1955 and was employed at IBM for ten years. However, his love of the land was where his heart was at and he began farming with his brothers in 1965. Jerry was a partner in Terra McCree Holsteins which in Gaelic means "land that I love".

Jerry married Margaret Remick on September 8, 1965, at St. John's Church in Rochester. They loved to travel and enjoyed many trips out West and to Canada. Although they had no children of their own, he was deeply loved by twenty nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews. He was "Uncle Jerry", and he belonged to every one of them. His sense of humor and story telling were enjoyed by all as he always had a joke to share with them. One of the most memorable trips of his life was when he traveled to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone as he loved being an Irishman and was very proud of his heritage.

He is survived by two brothers, Bill (Dorothy) Connelly of Rochester, Jim (Marilyn) Connelly of Bloomington, two sisters; Mary Ann (Terry) Schaefer of Rochester, and Sharon (Brian) Utley of Lake Elmo, MN; and sisters-in-law Jacquie, Karen and Nancy. He was preceded in death by four brothers: John, Joe, Paul and Robert.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 am Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, 1105 12 ^th St. SE, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 10:00am until time of the service. The burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.mackenfuneralhome.com