Connie Sue Von Haden

The choir of heaven gained a beautiful new soprano on Monday, April 6th, 2026, when Connie Sue Von Haden, age 69, was called home to her Lord after more than a decade of unyielding courage in her battle with Parkinson's disease. She was born October 2nd, 1956, in Des Moines, Iowa to Don and Cleora Shearer.

Connie was once described, perfectly, as someone who "walked with a run" - always in motion, always doing, yet unfailingly sweet and caring in every step.

At age 19, that motion carried her to work at the Austin Straubel Airport in Green Bay, where a young man named Scott Von Haden happened to be taking lessons for his private pilot's license. Connie soon made sure he arranged for a bigger (more expensive!) plane so she could ride along. On June 9th, 1979, they were married - beginning a partnership of love, faith, and shared purpose that would define both their lives.

Together, Connie and Scott built a life in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, where she became known throughout the community as the Connie of Scott and Connie's Super Valu. A serial entrepreneur, she would later be the face of and driving force behind Ladysmith Sears and Curves.

Faith in God was one of Connie's most defining characteristics. For decades, she lent her beautiful singing voice as choir leader at Faith United Methodist Church in Ladysmith - filling the sanctuary and the hearts of all who heard her. She also enthralled the community as the mother of Mary in the musical production “Two from Galilee” and by singing annually with the Madrigal Singers.

Connie had an insatiable love of crafts - basket weaving, sewing, spinning the wool of llamas from the Shearer farm into yarn, and all manner of other crafts which piqued her curiosity. She blessed many who she loved with hand crafted quillows – part quilt, part pillow – each with designs and fabrics carefully selected with the recipient in mind. She found joy in making things with her hands and brought creativity and warmth into everything she touched.

Connie was preceded in death by her sister Debra Ann and her parents Don and Cleora. She is survived by her husband Scott; daughter and son-in-law Nicole and Tim Hawkins, son and daughter-in-law Kyle and Silvia von Haden, daughter Jackie von Haden; and seven grandchildren who will carry her light forward: Kaiden, Asher, Merrick, and Selah Hawkins; Madeline and Fiona von Haden; and Bennett von Haden.

A celebration of Connie's life will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Faith United Methodist Church in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a service at 3:00 p.m. (Rev. Mary Messmer officiating) and a light meal to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

A complete obituary will also be published in the Ladysmith News.