Connie Rooney

Connie Gene (Eller) Miller Rooney passed away suddenly on July 5, 2025, at her home in Stratton, Nebraska, at the age of 71 years, 11 months, and 18 days.

Born on September 8, 1953, in St. Francis, Kansas, Connie was the eldest of two children born to Gene Loyd and Eunice Marie (McGriff) Eller. She spent her early years in Bird City, Kansas, where she attended elementary and junior high school and was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church. Her father worked for her great-uncle, Leonard Mast at the Mast Repair Shop and later as a city employee alongside another great-uncle, Melvin Mast. Her mother was a dedicated homemaker.

The Eller family cherished time spent together—summer weekends at local lakes with friends and relatives, and holidays with grandparents: Lawrence Irwin and Clara May (Mast) McGriff in Seibert, Colorado, and Charles Loyd and Cecil Fern (Loudner) Eller in Gaylord, Kansas. Connie had many cousins and treasured family reunions.

In the summer of 1967, the family moved to St. Francis, Kansas, where Connie began high school. Two years later, they relocated to Burlington, Colorado, where she graduated with the Class of 1971 from Burlington High School. During her school years, Connie was active in band, choir, and pep club, and made lifelong friends.

On June 20, 1971, Connie united in Marriage to Sam Arnold Miller at St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City, Kansas. They made their home in St. Francis, Kansas, and were blessed with two children: Chad Curtis Miller (October 17, 1974) and Gena Ann (Miller) Bowers Olson (April 27, 1977). Sam and Connie later divorced in 2002.

On November 27, 2008, Connie married Patrick Earl Rooney of McDonald, Kansas—honoring her parents’ wedding anniversary of November 27, 1952. They lived in McDonald before relocating to Stratton, Nebraska, in 2013.

Connie was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She had a generous spirit and an infectious love for people and animals. Her passions included antiquing, genealogy, photography, crafting, music, reading, drawing, social media, and traveling. She had a gift for conversation and built meaningful connections wherever she went.

Connie gave freely of her time and talents, volunteering in numerous community organizations. She was a lifetime member of both the VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary and was also involved with Rebekah’s, Western Kansas Racing (WKR), Jaycee’s, the Red Hat Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an avid supporter of 4-H and a dedicated Girl Scout leader.

Her professional life reflected her caring nature and strong work ethic. Connie worked as a waitress at several local restaurants, including Harland’s Bar & Grill, US 36 Restaurant, Park Hill Restaurant, Riverside Recreation, and Big Ed’s. She also worked as a cashier at Sainty Super Foods, Stop 'n Shop, and Coastal Mart, and later as a receptionist at the Cheyenne County Clinic. She played an essential role in helping her children launch Park Hill Too in Atwood, Kansas, and fulfilled a dream by opening her own restaurant—The Heritage Café in Bird City. Later, she turned her passion for antiquing into a business, founding Take Me Home Treasures and traveling across Nebraska and Kansas with Pat, buying, selling, and “junking.”

Connie is survived by her loving husband, Patrick Earl Rooney of Stratton, Nebraska; son, Chad Curtis Miller of St. Francis, Kansas; daughter, Gena Ann (Miller) Bowers Olson and her, husband Matthew Jon Olson of Junction City, Kansas; stepchildren: Paul Allen (Shelly) Rooney of Benkelman, Nebraska, Jennifer Marie (Derrick Jarmin) Rooney Owens of Benkelman, Nebraska and Amy Sue (Rooney) Witzel of Stratton, Colorado; her aunt, Ruth Ann (Robert) Eller Gallaway of Colby, Kansas; brother-in-law, H. Michael (Ruth) Rooney of Bird City, Kansas; her former sisters-in-law: Janice Eileen (Robert) Miller Apgar of Sussex, New Jersey, Doris Jean (Leonard) Miller Fleckenstein of Jennings, Kansas, and Toni Lynn (Lex) Miller Hawkins Landenberger of St. Francis, Kansas; nieces and nephews: Angela (Eller-Pottorff) Anderson Rivera Hilburn of Burlington, Colorado, Travis Pottorff of Grand Junction, Colorado, Lisa (Troy) Rooney Rien of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Michelle (Tim) Rooney Heinemann of Smithfield, Nebraska; grand-nieces Cheyenne Rain Marie Rivera and Julie Lynn Rivera, of Burlington, Colorado; 16 step-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; and many other cherished family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene Loyd and Eunice Marie (McGriff) Eller; her sister, Bonnie Lynn (Eller) Pottorff; her in-laws: Robert Curtis and Elsie Pauline (Straub) Miller Cook, John Francis Anthony Cook, John Edward Rooney Jr., and Zella Elaine (Burr) Rooney; former sisters-in-law: Ann Marie (Miller) Wright and Esther May (Miller) Touchet Finkbiner; former brother-in-law Carl Dean (Esther) Finkbiner; nephews: Justin Wade Fleckenstein, Robert Lynn Wright, Michael Kingston Apgar, and Michael Shane Rooney.

Connie's warmth, strength, and love will be missed deeply by all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Bird City, Kansas, followed by a luncheon. A private burial will take place later.

Memorial contributions may be made in Connie’s honor to the American Cancer Society. Cards and condolences may be mailed to: Hermann-Jones Funeral Chapel 607 Norris Avenue McCook, Nebraska 69001

Blessed be the memory of Connie Gene (Eller) Miller Rooney.