Connie Klingler

Connie Klingler, born September 26, 1951, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a longtime resident of Gillette, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, at the age of 73.

Connie was a woman full of joy and fierce love. She gave herself completely to the people in her life—her family, her friends, and her community. If you knew Connie, you knew her laugh: loud, boisterous, contagious. You knew her generosity, her grit, and her unwavering loyalty. She loved like no other, and she showed up—every time—with her whole heart.

Born Consuela Alicia Candelaria to Raymond and Clara Candelaria, she grew up in Cortez, Colorado, surrounded by siblings and stories, and never lost her love familia. Camping, hunting, and family adventures shaped her early years. In the 1970s, she moved to Gillette, Wyoming, where she planted roots and built a life centered around love, service, and community. She started her family by adopting her niece Michelle, and later welcomed Raymond and Kadie into her heart and home. Together, they filled the house with music—harmonies from the front seat of a copper Ford extended cab, belting Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” like it was their family anthem.

Connie didn’t just raise her kids—she raised them in the center of community life. From Girl Scouts to wrestling matches, bowling leagues to baseball games, she made sure her children were in the game and that she was in the stands. Winters were spent at the bowling alley; summers at the ball fields. And it wasn’t just her kids she showed up for—she cheered on generations of Gillette athletes, kept score at countless games, and gave her time during elections so her neighbors could vote.

She was a dedicated worker—supporting students as a teacher’s aide, bringing energy to the News Record, Albertson’s, and the County Courthouse. She gave her time, heart, and humor to every space she entered.

She was a die-hard Denver Broncos fan, a St. Louis Cardinals loyalist, a cribbage master, a karaoke queen, a fierce mama, a proud grandma and great-grandma, and a friend who never forgot a birthday. She celebrated everything—and everyone. Connie was also an avid reader and a cherished member of several book clubs over the years. For her, reading was not just about stories on the page, but the conversations they sparked, the friendships they deepened, and the laughter they brought to living rooms and back porches alike.

Connie found deep love and companionship with Kirk Klingler. They met at a moment when they both needed something real. What they built together was strength, joy, and devotion. She often shared that Kirk taught her honesty and integrity. Their years were full of travel, card games, and karaoke nights—especially their unforgettable rendition of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” In Connie’s final years, Kirk’s care and love never wavered.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Clara Candelaria, her brother Remijio Candelaria, and many beloved family members and close friends who went before her. She carried their memories with her always and kept their legacies alive in the way she loved and showed up for others.

She is survived by her husband, Kirk Klingler; her children, Michelle (Brett) Candelaria-Dunstan, Raymond (Celeste) Donaldson, and Kadie Donaldson; her grandchildren Allyssa (Davis) Tyrrell, Michael (Mackenzi) Dunstan, Bailee Dunstan, Marie Donaldson, Fernando (Madison) Jurado, Marissa Ritthaler, Kincaid (Cybil), Kaimon (Leah), and Klacyee Donaldson; and her great-grandchildren: Genevieve, Magnolia, Aryas, Eli, Oakley, Kainoa, and Armani. She is also survived by her siblings Yvonne Candelaria, Donna Wallace, and Paul Candelaria.

Her spirit lives on in every Bronco touchdown celebrated in her name, in the warmth of a well-worn crochet blanket, and in the lively discussions of book clubs that carry her memory forward. Memorial service for Connie will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com