Robert J. Conrad, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2015 at age 98 in Provo, UT. Known as Bob, or Brother Bob, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Aileen Condie Conrad; his parents, and six of his seven brothers and sisters.
Bob Conrad was born August 5, 1916, to Carl Kunz and Sophia Laterner Conrad in McGill, Nevada, the sixth child in a family of two girls and six boys. Bob grew up in McGill, and graduated from White Pine High School as valedictorian at the age of 16 in 1933. Upon returning home from a Mormon mission in Brazil, he met the love of his life, Aileen Condie, who was teaching elementary school in McGill at that time. They married in Deming, New Mexico, on July 21, 1943. Bob Conrad served in the Army Air Forces between May 1943 and April 1946. He began his studies in Accounting at BYU and obtained his MBA at the University of Oregon.
The family moved to the Bay area of California in 1949, then to Darien, Connecticut, in 1956. In October1958, the family moved to EskDale, a small community in west Millard County, where he lived for the rest of his life. Bob taught grades 5 – 8 in EskDale Elementary for nine years until he left to complete his Doctorate in Education at the U of U in 1967. During this time, with no formal music training, he formed and conducted the EskDale Orchestra and brought it to recognition throughout Millard County. His passion for learning was infectious; this trait never dimmed in nearly 100 years of life, making him the quintessential teacher, whether it be a small child, teenagers struggling to find themselves, or his erudite colleagues at the University. Anyone who ever traveled with him quickly learned that he had a story for every bump on the horizon. He was possessed of a quick and ready wit that was often pointed at himself – this gift remained intact to the end. A man of the utmost integrity, he radiated kindness and humility and maintained his uncompromising standards without being judgmental.
Notwithstanding the above, one overriding passion flowed through everything he ever did: service to God. Every single year of his adult life was spent in some role of missionary, pastor, teacher, or counselor. His love of God transcended any of the manmade barriers which separate worshippers.
Bob believed that children were a blessing of the Lord and was never happier than when his home was filled with them. He is survived by his 8 children: Linda (Dean) Chicquette, her two sons and 3 grandchildren; Colleen (Sam -deceased) Faber, her 6 children and 17 grandchildren; James Conrad, his 4 children (mother, Teresa); John (Joie) Conrad, his 6 children and 12 grandchildren; Joanne (Scott) Anderson, her 4 children and 1 grandchild; Kathy Narvaez, her 3 sons (father, Israel); Tim (Gloria) Conrad, his 3 children and 4 grandchildren; and Melodie (David) Graber, her 5 children (father of oldest four, Martin Wright -deceased) and 1 grandchild; and his sister: Ethel (Conrad) Triplett.
A Graveside Service was held Sunday, May 17, 2015, at EskDale, UT at 9:00 am.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 21, 2015, at 2:00 pm (Mountain Time) in the EskDale Auditorium.