Allen Conrad

ALLEN CONRAD

Anamosa

Allen Conrad passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 11, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Masonic Lodge in Anamosa. Spiritual Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 16, at the Peace United Church in Monticello, with a lunch to follow in the church basement. Inurnment services at 2 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, Anamosa.

Allen Lawrence Conrad was born Nov. 14, 1940, in Clarence, Iowa, to Lawrence and Dorothy Conrad. He graduated from Clarence High School with the class of 1958, where he was active in basketball and choir. Al proudly served in the Navy for four years. When he returned home, he met and married Janice with whom he had four children, Rhonda, Ross, Rick and Randy. They later divorced. He then met and married Peg Gearhart, and her children, Brian, Brent and Bruce, became part of his family. Peg died of cancer July 4, 2009. Al married Jane DeSousa on Aug. 16, 2010, and welcomed her children, Nick, Thomas, Tonya Kurtz, Dan, Aaron and Vince Thomas, and her stepchildren, Mike, Tony, Dan and Scott DeSousa and Laurie Worden, into his life as well.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; his second wife, Peg; and his stepson, Bruce.

Those left to honor him include his wife, Jane Niles Thomas DeSousa Conrad; children, Rhonda (Darrell) Janssen of Wilton, Ross Conrad of Durant, Rick (Erika) Conrad of Solon, and Randy (Kerry) Conrad of Virginia Beach, Va.; Peg's children, Brian (Karen) Gearhart of Cedar Rapids and Brent (Jessica) Gearhart of Memphis, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and sisters, Janice (Dale) Wenndt of Oxford Junction and Yvonne (Gil) Mulley of Livermore, Colo. Also surviving are Jane's children and stepchildren and their families.

Al was dedicated to the community and was active in many organizations, including the United Church of Christ where he held many positions including trustee and deacon, Anamosa Area Ambulance Service, Little League coach, lifetime member of the hospital auxiliary, Masonic Lodge No. 46, chairman of the Republican Central Committee twice.

He was instrumental in establishing the Anamosa Senior Housing, Jaycees, civil service board, Knights of Pythias, AMVETS, American Legion, school board member and building committee member, Monticello Gun Club, Jones County York Rite and the Chamber of Commerce.

Al was an insurance agent for Farmers Elevator Insurance. He bought Russell and Russell Insurance in 1969, was a semi driver and a school bus driver. No one was a stranger to Al. He enjoyed family, friends, yardwork, flowers, birds and wildlife. He could not pass up the challenge of fixing something that had been discarded. He enjoyed life and the company of those around him.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.