Martin 'Marty' William Connolly

Martin "Marty" William Connolly, 83, of Laramie, formerly of Thermopolis passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. He was born January 25, 1940, to Michael and Bernadette (nee Kane) Connolly in St. Paul, Minn.

Marty grew up in St. Paul with his two brothers, Michael "Micky" and Jerome "Jerry". He graduated from Johnson High School in 1958. After high school he worked for the Minnesota Highway Department until he was drafted into the United States Army where he served from 1962 until 1964 in Fort Knox, Ky. While in the Army he married Jacquelyn "Jackie" Schmitz on May 4, 1963, in St. Paul, Minn.   

Marty went back to working at the Minnesota Highway Department in 1964 and started attending the University of Minnesota while also raising a family of four children with Jackie. He earned a bachelor's degree in Geology in 1971. He then started working for the federal government including the United State Corps of Engineers, the USGS, and the BLM. Marty and Jackie moved from St. Paul, Minn., to Minot, N. D., for a few years in 1976 and then moved to Thermopolis, Wyo., in 1978 where they settled for many years. In 2003, Marty retired from the BLM where he worked in Worland, Wyo.  

After retirement, Marty enjoyed renovating and building the cabin that he and Jackie bought on Casper Mountain. They spent weekends and summers at the cabin enjoying the mountain views and spending time with family and the many friends they made there.  

Marty had many hobbies including collecting rocks from everywhere he went, even for a day trip or the travels that he and Jackie enjoyed. He also was accomplished at drawing and painting and enjoyed those hobbies along with continually learning new things. He always had a book in his hand.  

Marty was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Francis Catholic Church in Thermopolis, Wyo. He also very much enjoyed the Gottsche Gym, Senior Center and Library in Thermopolis.

  He is survived by his wife, Jackie Connolly of Laramie; children, Catherine C. Lewis of Harker Heights, Texas, John Connolly (Toni) of Lander, Wyo., Jennifer Stone (Bart) of Laramie, Wyo., and Kristie Connolly (Todd Kincaid) of Reno, Nev .; grandchildren, Sydney J. Kane Felts, John W. Felts III, Carson Connolly, Hannah Green, Ginnie Kincaid, and Caleb Russell; and his brother, Jerry Connolly of St. Paul, Minn.

Marty is preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Michael Connolly. 

Interment will take place at the Cheyenne National Cemetery on July 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. Information and directions to the Cheyenne National Cemetery: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/Cheyenne.asp. Memorial services, including lunch, will be held at the Buckboard Bar and Grill http://www.bunkhousebar.com/ after the interment. Please RSVP to: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/connollymemorial if you will be attending the Memorial Services.

Memorial donations may be made to Laramie Interfaith 712 E Canby St. Laramie, WY 82072 or http://www.laramieinterfaith.org