It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Daughter, Wife, Mom and Grandma Conita Joan (Bazelman) Hollenbeck. She was welcomed into this world on December 31, 1939, and left to join our Lord on January 1, 2024. Connie was 84 years old. A Visitation will be held at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 from 6-7 p.m. with a parish rosary at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Thursday, January 11, 2024 with burial to follow at the O'Neill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please prayerfully consider donating in Connie's name to the O'Neill Ministerial Association, Attn: Pastor Durre, 204 N 7th St, O'Neill, NE 68763.

Born at home, Connie was the pride and joy and only child of Joseph and Winifred (Reed) Bazelman. Her father would eventually build a home next door and they would live there until Connie was married with her own family and moved back into the other house for close to 60 years.

In 1957, Connie graduated Salutatorian from Saint Mary's High School in O'Neill, Nebraska. She had prayerfully contemplated being a Catholic Nun before deciding the desire to be a mother was the path God had chosen for her. She went on to earn her certificate from Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska and went on to work for Northern Natural Gas. On August 23, 1958, Connie married John (Jack) Hollenbeck, a local boy who was serving in the US Army. After a brief honeymoon, Connie would move with Jack to Fort Campbell, Kentucky where they remained until Jack's time in the Army was complete.

In 1959, they moved back to Nebraska where they took residence for a short time in Wahoo, Nebraska. It wouldn't be long until they made their way back to O'Neill where Jack started his career at NPPD.

Connie's ability to be a mother was brought to a halt when she discovered natural born children could not be a part of her plan. She and Jack would start their adoption journey and in 1968 they brought home a son, Todd and in 1973 they brought home a daughter, Monica.

Over the next 70 years of her life, Connie would work for M&R Distributing, she started Connie's Clip and Dip Dog Grooming, served as the Northeast Nebraska Adult Basic Education Coordinator through NECC, and then rounded out her working career as the Manager of Shannon Apartments in O'Neill.

Connie's most impactful achievements came in the form of being a devoted Catholic, stay-at-home mother, and giving her time and care to her family, friends, church and community.

Family was immensely important to Connie, and she spent much of her free time making connections and plans with her cousins so lifelong communication between family would remain. Family and prayer remained the backbone of everything Connie cherished.

Several hobbies occupied her time over the years including painting, calligraphy and traveling to spend time with her children and grandchildren. In 2016, her time doing what she loved was changed forever after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Over the following 8 years, Connie would reside in the Good Samaritan Home, The Evergreen, Country Lane and at last, Arbor Care Center of O'Neill.

To remember and honor her life, she leaves her husband of 65 years, Jack Hollenbeck, her son Todd Hollenbeck of Lincoln, her daughter and son-in-law Monica and Andrew Huber, and her granddaughter's Winnie and Lily Huber.

Connie was preceded in death by her father and mother Joseph and Winifred (Reed) Bazelman.