Darcy Ann Connolly-Brunner, age 61 of Freeport, died Saturday, August 9th, 2025 in a vehicle accident. Her sudden passing has deeply saddened and shocked her family, friends, and her community.
Darcy was born on August 27th, 1963 in Manchester, IA. She is the daughter of John and Shirlain (Faust) Connolly.
Darcy met and married Thomas Brunner on August 1st, 1987.Darcy was active in her youth. She was in 4-H and raised and trained horses. She ran track, helped with the family restaurant business, and enjoyed time with her trusted and true friends, Paula Hargrafen and Mary Maurer. They had great times together in a variety of misadventures and mischief making.
Darcy was a 1981 graduate of Maquoketa Valley High School where in the same year she proudly won best actress. She attended University of Dubuque and acquired her Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 1985. It was here that she met her lifelong friend Kathleen (Finn) Kruse from Stockton. She was also a very active member of the Delta Phi Sigma Sorority at UD. Darcy held her sorority sisters close for all her life. She was forever a Delta girl.
Darcy worked in the social work field her entire life. She was extremely dedicated to the mission of helping others and advocating for vulnerable populations. She worked for Rosecrance, Rockford Memorial Hospital, and the Monroe Clinic. By 2000, she began her private practice Counseling for Change in Freeport. She took great pride in owning her own business as her clients and work was very near and dear to her heart. Darcy made cherished friends everywhere she worked and was well loved by many.
Darcy was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. She enjoyed lecturing and helping with church activities. She and Tom sent all of their children through the Aquin school system.
Darcy met the love of her life Thomas Brunner at a Halloween dance in Stockton, IL. She just couldn’t let the man dressed as the Lone Ranger get away. Tom continued to be her hero for the 38 years of marriage they had together. He proved to be the perfect match for Darcy, kind and understanding, and always let her spread her wings and fly.
Darcy then began her most cherished part of her life - being a mother to her four wonderful and talented children. There was never a birthday or family event that was not celebrated to the fullest degree because they were her most beloved “treasures.” Whether it was school events, dance recitals, football or basketball games, she was always there, proudly saying “I’m their momma.”
Darcy was happiest when snowmobiling with her husband Tom and being told “Yes, Sugars” to every Longaberger purchase, going on crazy and fun adventures with Ellen where every second was cherished, singing Delta Dawn with Sophie and always being her #1 fan, enjoying quality time with her Mini Fro Gabrielle who she proudly passed down her hair and humor to, and sharing laughs with Heath while bonding over music and forever having his back while keeping her on her toes. When the kids got older, her forever fur buddy Tucker was always by her side. Her family meant everything to her, as did her siblings. She was always plotting adventures and ensuring that things were perfectly planned for others.
She is survived by her wonderful husband Tom, and her cherished children Ellen Brunner, Sophie (Marcus) Bruder, Gabrielle (Hewitt Dameier) Brunner, and Heath (Dana Geiser) Brunner. Darcy will be sadly missed by her siblings Debi Orr, Diane Connolly, John (Lori) Connolly, and Denise (Jim) Welter as well as her many nieces and nephews, her adored Aunt Marie, and many special friends including Carol Harbach.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Shirlain Connolly, grandparents Evelyn and Mary Ellen Faust and Leo and Martha Connolly, her mother and father in law Freeman and Sue Brunner, brother in law Patrick Brunner, and special friend Mary Thorne.
There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to our family, friends, neighbors, and amazing community who have been with us during this difficult time. We appreciate you very much. We would also like to thank all of the first responders involved in assisting Darcy during the accident.
Darcy’s legacy will carry on forever through her children, family, and all who knew her. She will be remembered for her fun loving personality, amazing spirit, kind heart, incredible strength and her irreplaceable, inappropriate humor. In Darcy’s honor please remember to stop, smell the roses, and use them as decor.
Heaven gained its brightest firecracker. Give them some hell, Mommacita! You taught us well and we will take it from here. Toodles!
Funeral Mass for Darcy will be 10:30 am Saturday August 16, 2025 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Fr. Peter Snieg will officiate. Visitation 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm on Friday August 15, 2025 at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home.
