Obituary of Connie R. Gimbler | Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette

Connie R. Gimbler was called home on Thursday, November 16, 2023 to be with her Lord and Savior. Connie was born in Concordia, Kansas on July 30, 1946 to Al and Pearl Peterson. Her family moved, living in seven different locations. Connie attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas for three years and earned her degree from Wichita State University in 1968. While at Emporia she met her future husband Don, and they were married on January 22, 1966. Seven years later Connie and Don fell in love with the rivers and lakes They live in Arkansas and moved there in 1976 with their daughters, Christy and Kim. The family enjoyed camping, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and motorcycling. Connie began teaching at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. She taught for 39 years in the Bentonville School District. She has been named Bentonville Teacher of the Year three times and Arkansas state runner-up twice. She was very active in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. She taught classes, was a member of the funeral service dinner committee, and participated in numerous workshops and classes. Her Bible sisters have been her friends for over twenty-five years. After Connie retired, she fell in love with tennis and became a very active tennis player. Playing on tennis teams and going to state tournaments. The Hot Springs Over 65 Championship brought Connie so much joy. Connie and her husband, Don, loved to travel, and their first trip after retirement was a fly-fishing trip to Canada. They also traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Belize, Costa Rica, and most of the 50 states. Going to all the national parks was a goal of mine. However, the trips she and Don enjoyed the most were going to Colorado and riding quad bikes under the bright yellow of aspen trees with her brother-in-law Greg and his wife Sharon. After Christy and Kim graduated from college, got married, and had children, Connie enjoyed her new role as a grandmother. Playing with the “Great Ones,” helping them with their homework, and playing games were the roles she cherished most. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and her parents, Al and Pearl Peterson. She is survived by two daughters, Christine Lemon (Jim) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Kim Conway (Doug) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; six grandchildren, Zach Lemon of Rapid City, S.D., Cole Lemon of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Jacob Lemon of Springfield, Mo., Lucy Lemon of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Davis Conway and Drew Conway of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and his brother-in-law, Greg Gimbler (Sharon) of Cotopaxi, Colorado. A Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephens Catholic Church, 1300 NE J Street, Bentonville, Ark. No. 72712, under the supervision of Monsignor Marzuk and Father Mike Sinclair. There will be a private family burial at Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery with Father Mike Sinckler officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s Charitable Conference, St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 1300 NE J Street, Bentonville, Ark. 72712 or Single Parent Scholarship, 2601 SW “D” Street, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. Arrangements are being made by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be left at www.funeralmation.com.

Posted on November 20, 2023