Beloved Storm Lake Resident Linda Connell Dies at 77

Linda Lou Dlugosch Connell, 77, who maintained ties to both Omaha, Nebraska and Storm Lake, Iowa, died Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at her home in Omaha. She was surrounded by her husband Dan and family at the time of her passing.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake, with burial to follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. A Prayer Vigil will take place during visitation beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions have been requested to the Carmelite Nuns in Sioux City, Iowa.

The announced services bring together two communities that figure in Connell’s life. Storm Lake residents who attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church will have a local opportunity to honor her memory and offer practical support to her family, while friends and relatives from Omaha may travel to participate in the Mass and interment. For many families in Buena Vista County, funerals at St. Mary’s serve both spiritual and communal roles, and the schedule allows time for neighbors to attend visitation on Sunday evening or the Mass on Monday morning.

Practical details are now public so community members can plan attendance and coordinate condolences. The visitation on Sunday evening and the Monday morning Mass make it possible for working residents to participate. Contributions directed to the Carmelite Nuns provide a clear alternative to floral tributes for those who wish to express sympathy.

Connell’s passing is a reminder of the close ties between Storm Lake and households with connections beyond Buena Vista County. The scheduled services will offer a focal point for communal grieving, remembrance, and practical support for her husband and family.