Jamie L. Mcconnell

Jamie McConnell of Cedarburg, WI passed away on August 21, 2024 at the age of 50.

Jamie was born in East Chicago, IN and grew up in Schererville, IN. She developed a love of Lake Michigan born of the dunes and trips into Chicago. It was her great pleasure to be back near the lake in her last six years after her family moved to Cedarburg, WI. She could often be found rejuvenating herself in a public park or nature preserve on the shore.

She left much of her heart in Indiana, in her home region, at university, and in the Fort Wayne area. Jamie graduated from Lake Central High School in 1992. She attended Valparaiso University, graduating in 1996 with a bachelor’s in music education. There, she made many lifelong friends, including music sisters in SAI International. Jamie also met her future husband, Clay, while at Valpo, as they crossed paths in concert choir (Jamie was better!). She taught music to elementary and middle school students in Hobart, IN for several years before moving to Fort Wayne, IN, where she also taught for a short time. Jamie and Clay were married in 2001 in Fort Wayne.

Jamie came to a vibrant faith in Jesus in her mid-20’s and was a follower to the end, faithfully baptized, communing, and absorbing God’s Word. This led to a rock solid start to her marriage and a desire for children: Isaac (2002), Anastasia (2004), Luann (2005), Gianna (2007), Callista (2010), and Charis (2011). Jamie had many earthly joys, but the greatest was her family. She “retired” from schoolteaching when her first baby came and raised her children at home for 17 years. She homeschooled each in their early years; a few attended private school for a bit, and all later attended Cedarburg public schools.

After moving to Cedarburg in 2018 for her husband’s job change, she got her WI teacher’s license and returned to teaching music to schoolchildren in 2019 at Rockfield Elementary School in Germantown. Jamie taught through the depths of COVID-19 and through all the travails of her cancer treatments since September 2022. She enjoyed teaching music to hundreds of children and only resigned in late July 2024.

Jamie was adaptable and ever optimistic, always able to find the good in every new situation. She was gentle and had a gift of seeing past a person’s struggles to their inherent dignity. She refused to give up on people, time and again – whether husband, children, family, friends, church members, colleagues, students, or others. Jamie formed – and kept – a myriad of relationships. Even in her final years after cancer diagnosis, she continued to amaze by developing rapport with cancer clinicians and fellow sufferers in clinic, hospital, and online support groups. Jamie was a connector.

Many who knew her unfailingly remember her dazzling smile.

In addition to her children, Jamie is survived by her husband Clay, sister Patricia Biesen, sister Katherine (Steve) Loper, extended family, and several in-laws who also loved her dearly.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 6:00 PM, at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, 10729 W Freistadt Road, Mequon. Private family burial will take place the following day. A visitation will take place on Wednesday, at the church, from 3:30 PM until 5:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church or towards an outdoor musical center at Rockfield Elementary. Checks so marked can be written to Rockfield PTA and mailed to Rockfield Elementary School, N132W18473 Rockfield Rd, Germantown, WI 53022. Online donations can be made at https://app.givebacks.gives/jamie.