John Thomas Connelly Obituary John Thomas 'Mike' Connelly, 66, of Brainerd, passed away Friday, September 20, 2024. John's family will honor his life on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Nelson - Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd. Family and friends are encouraged to gather one hour prior to service and stay for a luncheon to follow. Private interment will take place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. John Thomas Michael Connelly was born on November 9, 1957, in Santa Monica, California, to John Connelly Jr. and Donna Connelly. He grew up alongside his older sister, Sharon Sjeie, and younger sister, Cindy Connelly. After his parents divorced, his family expanded when his father, John Connelly Jr., married Ginny Connelly and had two sons, Steven and James Connelly. His mother, Donna, also had two more daughters, Samantha Heflin and Lanna Harris. At the young age of 16, John left home to travel the country, visiting family occasionally during his adventures. On one of these visits, he taught his younger sister Samantha how to get free McDonald's burgers that were about to be thrown away and gave her an early driving lesson before she had her license. Eventually, John settled in Brainerd, Minnesota, drawn there in part because his mother was originally from Minneapolis. He saw an opportunity in the local real estate market and convinced his mother to help him invest in trailers for rent. Over time, he built a portfolio of 17 trailers and a few additional properties, including the houses on Meadowview Road, some of which he built himself. Notable properties included 'The Pond House,' 'The Big House,' 'Diamond House,' and '3805 The Farmhouse.' Though he could be tough to get along with at times, John had a generous heart. He often helped people in need of housing by offering them a place to stay when they had nowhere else to go. In some cases, he allowed tenants to work off their rent through jobs he provided. One tenant recalled how John initially offered her a larger house than she had requested because it better suited her familys needs. John also enjoyed raising dogs. His sister Samantha has now had one of his dogs, a mixed breed named Luna, for 13 years. Many of John's friends also received dogs from him over the years. His motto was simple: 'Work hard, share what you earn, and always speak from the heart.' John was preceded in death by his mother, Donna, his father, John Connelly Jr., his sister Sharon Sjeie, and his half-sister Lanna Harris. He is survived by his sister Cindy Connelly, his half-sister Samantha Heflin, his half-brothers Steven and James Connelly, his stepmother Ginny Connelly, as well as his nieces, nephews, and friends.