Beau Daniel Connely

Beloved Son, Brother, and Daddy:

MEMORIAL SERVICES:
Rosie’s Banquet Hall
1501 Center Park Road (South 14th St)
Lincoln, NE 68512
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Noon–Food and fellowship after the service.
OFFICIANT: Charlie Swails
GUITAR MUSIC: Drift Away by Torrey Joseph
MEMORIALS: In lieu of plants, please send memorials to the family for final expenses.

Beau Daniel Connely was born March 23, 1993 in Lincoln, NE to Donna Connely. Beau was tragically killed in a car/semi-truck accident on May 10, 2022, at age 29 years, and almost two months old.

Beau is survived by his eight year old Daughter, Lilyanne Elizabeth Cooney (Mom Brighid [Bride] Cooney) (Lincoln, NE.);
Beau’s Maternal family; Mom, Donna Connely (Lincoln, NE.), Brothers, Justice Connely and Jesse Connely (Lincoln, NE.), Uncle, Michael Connely (York, NE.), Aunt, Dianna (Aaron) Gruber (Gresham, NE.), Aunt, Lela (Jerry) McNinch (Lincoln, NE.), Aunt, Lori (John) Edgerley (Lincoln, NE.), and Grandmother, Clara Connely (York, NE.), Aunt, Eiko Connely (Dublin, OH.), Uncle, Terry Krumrei (York, NE.), Uncle, Roger Lowry (Fort Pierce, FLA.), and many cousins, their children, and a very large extended family. Beau was preceded in death by 1st cousin Jakob Connely (Lincoln, NE. 2004), and Grandfather Jack Connely (York, NE. 2020).
Beau’s Paternal family: Dad, Robert “Butch” (Ina) Chapin (Redding, IA), Sister, Missy Ely (Dave Martinez) (Lincoln, NE), Brothers, Ben Chapin (Hubert, NC)and Bobby Chapin (Trenton, NC), Aunt, Jennifer Chapin Shepherd (York, NE), and numerous cousins and extended family. Beau was preceded in death by Grandfather, Milton Chapin (York, NE. 1989), Grandmother, Freda Chapin (York, NE. 2011), Uncle, Michael Chapin (York, NE. 2014), Uncle, Laurence (Janet) Lombard (Boonville, CA. 2014), and Step-Mom, Ina Chapin (Redding, IA, 2021).

Beau is sorely missed and his family remains in horrified shock and grief over his sudden departure. Beau had so many plans. To name a few, he expected to finish his pilot’s license–with three lessons already completed. He expected to move to Colorado with Lily (and Bride), and begin a new career in a new State. He was Power of Attorney for his Mom, his Dad, and for his little brothers. At 29, he was growing into his full potential and managing many responsibilities. He pondered college for medical or bio-medical sciences, especially since he was so capable in math and science, earning a 99% in both subjects.

Beau grew up primarily in Lincoln, NE. with many visits to his Grandparent’s homes in York, NE. He had many cousins to play with and thoroughly loved his huge family. Beau’s family used to have big parties for every birthday, holiday, and many traditional gatherings. Beau often remarked how much he missed his huge family gatherings and remained very devoted to family traditions throughout his lifetime, honoring tradition with his daughter and immediate family.

Beau loved dandelions as a toddler and dubbed them “lion flowers”, innocently praising a beautiful “lion flower garden” at a birthday party in York, making many laugh lovingly. He attended pre-school at Southeast Community College (SCC) while his Mom attended college for undergrad. He enjoyed surprising anyone who asked where he went to school as a Pre-K student by stating he went to school at SCC. He began reading pizza boxes and saying his ABC’s at two years and 10 months old. Beau attended school in Lincoln and was in the gifted classes beginning in Kindergarten. In Kindergarten, he read at 3rd/4th grade level. A fellow classmate recently shared that the classmates always knew to go to Beau for help with their schoolwork. He won a science fair ribbon with his friend in 5th grade for measuring the electrical energy in fruit and creating a chart identifying those levels. Beau visited Japan for 3 months when he was 11 and upon his return could speak quite a bit of the Japanese language.

Beau was also in sports, beginning with soft ball, baseball, volleyball, roller hockey, roller blades, and roller skating. He could skate and roller blade backwards as fast as he could forward. Beau also participated in basketball, football, and wrestling–with Grandpa Jack in the bleachers cheering him on. Beau has numerous bronze medallions and awards for his sports ventures, including wrestling and his team placing 1st in roller hockey. Beau was in swimming lessons for years through the YMCA, beginning at an early age since he sank like a rock–so much time was spent at the lakes–and he became an adept swimmer. Beau attended Camp Kitaki for many years, including Advanced Ranch Camp, where Beau learned to work with and ride horses, canoe, camp, and practice archery. Beau has a five year bronze medal from Camp Kitaki among several other medals for his participation and camp achievements.

He also rode bicycles and crashed a few into trees and rocks. Beau was rushed to the ER when he tore off part of an eyebrow and pushed a new tooth back up into its socket, after he crashed on the white rocks in Grandma and Grandpa’s driveway. There are multitudes of stories…how does one possibly encompass everything in their child’s life?

Beau was an innate musician. He could play by ear and by note. He inherited musical abilities from both sides, with maternal family members in Country Music Halls of Fame (NE and CO) and from his Dad Butch, who is a lifelong country and opry musician. Beau came from a long line of musicians. He played the violin, guitar, trumpet, and piano. He usually played the piano every weekend. He taught his daughter Lily how to play the piano. His upright grand piano remains at his Mom’s home. The same piano that was lifted years ago into Grandpa Jack’s red truck by Grandpa Jack, Uncle Michael, Cousin Jake, and Beau. They were so strong. One of the first things Lily and Beau did at Nana’s house on weekends was to play that piano and make a vitamin shake.
Beau and Lily also sang and practiced vocals. Beau first sang on stage in a country music opry house in Redding, Iowa, with his Dad, at age three. As soon as Beau acquired his driver’s license at 16, he made sure to travel to Iowa as often as possible to visit his Dad. He also made sure that his daughter knew his Dad and Step-Mom Ina. Beau cared about all of his family and often spoke of how important family ties are.

After a lifetime family friend survived a stroke, Beau spent many days and hours driving the countryside with Doug to ensure that his driving abilities remained intact. Beau continued to assist Doug in many projects and property maintenance over the next 10 years. Beau was loyal and committed.

Next, Beau loves his daughter Lily with all of his heart, soul, and mind. He took Lily on so many adventures. On Beau’s Facebook page is a picture of one of many adventures, with Beau and Lily smeared in camouflage mud and squealing with laughter, as their guardian dog Kane keeps a lookout. They loved camping and practicing survival skills, including how to pitch a tent, build a campsite, and create a safe fire, climb trees, trek a river and forage through the woods. Beau was his family’s brave and courageous leader and defender.

Beau joined Cub Scouts with his daughter and attended meetings and campouts. Lily marveled at how much more she knew than her fellow cub scouts at their first official campout. Beau’s adventures with Lily were full spectrum, from playing in the mud to detailed artwork. He often took her to “Paint Yourself Silly” creating ceramic masterpieces. Beau just picked up the last two pieces and carried them in from his car a day before the fatal accident. They were carefully wrapped like priceless treasures when Lily visited her apartment and took them away, the last ceramic pieces that she and Daddy will ever paint together. The first piece from eight years ago remains in his hutch with Lily’s baby foot prints upon it. Eight years of art work and newly begun unfinished paintings remain in their apartment.

Beau and Lily recently went to the open air trampoline park. Beau had two more tickets waiting on his coffee table for the trampoline park the next weekend, the weekend after his death. Beau and his brothers almost always had a trampoline in the backyard growing up. Beau had begun to show Lily how to safely trampoline–a work in progress, a new adventure.

Beau also attended Lily’s dance lessons, took her to martial arts, and drove Lily to school many mornings. He cared for her every chance he got. He often worked nights and flexible jobs so he could attend to Lily at the drop of a hat.

Beau had his beloved dog Kane since Kane’s birth over ten years ago. Lily convinced Beau to let her also have two kittens, Ander and Crystal, who are at home waiting for Beau and Lily to return. He built them a floor to ceiling, carpet covered climbing pole that they use to show off. How does anyone explain to the pets that Daddy is never coming home again?

Beau also participated in Aerial Silks and performed at a local bar for a New Year’s Eve event, among many other local events. It takes incredible strength and flexibility to perform Aerials. Beau introduced Aerials to his little brother Justice. He promised his youngest brother Jesse fishing expeditions and driving lessons this summer.

Beau often walked on the wild side in life, and in work, much to his Mom’s chagrin. He was daring and worked on high roof tops–an avid climber, unafraid of heights; he worked with heavy equipment, dangerous machinery and tools, and was fearless. He helped his Mom cut down trees and chop up firewood after a major ice storm wearing out two chain saws and a sawzall, not stopping until all of the work was done. He went above and beyond to help.

Beau also has Facebook posts where he tried the hottest sauce there was (dangerous for the palate) in a shop in Louisiana when he worked on a natural disaster clean-up crew last year. He wanted to know and experience everything. Life was a huge adventure. He loved describing it in metaphors and analogy. He had so many more adventures to attend to.

Throughout his teens and 20’s, as most of his family and friends know, Beau was in multiple, mostly not-his-fault car accidents. There was a rolled car with a close friend, a recent crash and slide into a bridge on ice–reporting that had he been in his truck he would’ve went over the railing (2021), and plowing through snow drifts in a Bravada SUV to get a friend from the airport to get him home for Christmas–the transmission went out the next day. He was broadsided and spun in circles on 14th and Old Cheney while riding in the back seat. He was broadsided again in residential neighborhoods, while Bride, pregnant with Lily, was driving. He caught Bride (and Lily) before they flew out of the passenger window. Bride’s report is that Beau saved them. These are but a few.

The last serious accident that Beau survived was in August 2018, when his full size, metal GMC truck was split in half, shattering the windows and bending the box up into the air. The impact also pushed the truck up against a tree, broke the axles and sheared off a fire hydrant, after a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit him. His dog Kane took off terrified and Beau ran after him staggering, to save his dog, until he was transported to the hospital. Search “crews” looked for his dog. The officer said that vehicles in this condition rarely have survivors. It seemed from these events that Beau narrowly escaped death many times. His family felt he must be invincible. His Mom and brothers thought he would be protected by a Higher Power or luck or love. He had so many roles to fulfill in his life. He and family fully expected that he would be able to do so. We all remain aghast at the condition of his car in this last accident. Cremation was required, the only option.

Beau often sought a higher spirituality, purpose, and meaning in his life. He suffered extensively from the loss of his cousin Jake at age 16—(Beau was 11), again at the death of his Uncle Mike Chapin, Grandfather Jack, and other deaths of family and friends, as well as with the suffering in his extended family. One of the healing practices Beau used often was to attend Sweats, introduced by another lifelong friend–he had many, very important, lifelong friends. Beau was honored and prayed for, for many hours, at the Sweat after his death.

Beau was also raised in the Church with Grandmother Clara who was a longtime Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Bethel Bible Series Teacher. He attended and was involved with the Presbyterian Church, Middle Cross Church, Christ Place Church, and interacted often with Unity Prayer Chain (Silent Unity Church). He was so surprised when his childhood caretaker Sharon took him to a Church where people stood, yelled, and waved their arms in the air. He fully embraced it all. He even played bass guitar in the Middle Cross Church band and attended summer revivals for Middle Cross Church as well.

Beau also began reading his Mom’s psychotherapy and spirituality books a few years ago to gain a greater understanding and to ensure that he was living into his greatest and highest good. The last book he completed a few days before his death was “The Soul’s Code, In Search of Character and Calling” by James Hillman. His next pick was, “Change your Brain, Change your Life” by Dr. Daniel Amen that he was going to pick up on the day he was killed. Beau was also mentored by longtime family friend, Dr. Jan Lingren, Ed.D.

Beau loved animals and plants and grew up with many dogs, cats, and plants (Please don’t send any plants). His first big dog was a gift for his 14th birthday, a white German shepherd mix named Karma Jean. Beau and Mom borrowed “The Dog Whisperer” set of CD’s from their Middle Cross Church family and watched every one. Beau was with Karma when she died on April 6, 2020. Karma’s velvet bag of ashes are still in his hutch. Beau had his dog Kane for over ten years and dreaded his future departure. They are the best of friends. Beau’s beloved dog Kane now lives with and protects Lily and Bride, as Beau would want. Their cats, Ander and Crystal will be incorporated into Nana’s home so Lily can always visit them.

One of Beau’s family’s goals at this time, especially after so many friends and family responded to Beau’s tragic accident by verbally sharing stories about Beau, is to ask for typed stories and memories about Beau online, email, or on paper, so that these can be gathered together into a book for his family and especially for his daughter Lily, so she can always remember her Daddy. Only eight years old is a very young age to lose a Daddy.

Nice stories only please, wild-side friends. You know who you are, with love…to all.

As listed above, Beau’s Memorial services will be on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at noon, at Rosie’s Banquet Hall, 1501 Center Park Road (south 14th street), in Lincoln, NE. 68512. There will be an opportunity for friends and family to speak. Services will be hosted by family friend and Officiant Charlie Swails. (Beau, Lily, and family have attended many 4th of July BBQs at Charlie’s home.) There will be a slide show of pictures of Beau’s life and music with songs that Beau used to sing or play. Guitars and harmonicas are welcome. Beau’s longtime friend Torrey will play the guitar and a song Beau used to sing at Karaoke. After the services, there will be food and fellowship with pop, ice tea, coffee, and a cash bar for alcoholic beverages (you buy your own alcoholic drinks).

A video of Beau’s funeral/memorial service was filmed by Shramek’s Video Productions @ 4220 S. 33rd St. Ste. D. Lincoln, NE 68506. Contact Donna or Shramek’s if you wish to view/receive a copy of this video.

Please visit “Beau Connely Go Fund Me” to contribute to the fund for Beau’s burial plot and headstone, so Beau’s ashes can be near his beloved cousin Jake Connely (2004) and equally important Grandpa Jack Connely (2020) in Greenwood Cemetery, by York, NE, less than a mile from his Grandparent Connely homestead.

Special and heartfelt thanks to every single person that has helped Beau’s family in this time of extreme tragedy. We appreciate everything that has been done to help more than any words can ever express. Thank you from the bottom of our souls.

Beau’s immediate family remains lost in their world, the one that counted so heavily upon Beau’s presence.

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