Bernard Connolly

Bernard Joseph Connolly, Jr. died of advanced lung disease on Monday at Kavanagh House in Des Moines. He was 76.

Barney was a graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic School, Dowling High School, College of the Holy Cross, and Drake University Law School. A longtime Des Moines resident, he previously served on the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Board as well as the Board of Education at Saint Augustin Catholic School. Barney devoted himself to the Alcoholics Anonymous program of recovery and assumed the role of sponsor for dozens of recovering alcoholics over the course of three decades. 

Barney is survived by his four children, Allison, B.J. (Katie), Tricia Vogel (Dennis), and Jack (Mackenzie); his grandchildren, Nora Vogel, Sylvie Connolly, Edward Connolly; and his sisters, Bernadine Travers (John) and Rosemary Connolly. His parents Bernard and Mary Ellen preceded him in death, as did his brothers Dennis and John.

Bernard’s family will greet friends from 9:30am to 10:30am, Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow visitation at 10:30am. A luncheon will be served after Mass. 

Interment of Bernard’s cremains at Des Moines Glendale Cemetery will be at a later date.

The family expresses gratitude to the caregivers at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and Kavanagh House. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kavanagh House or Dowling Catholic High School.