Condran, Esther J.

Esther J. Condran, 92, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, peacefully entered her final resting place on Aug. 18, 2010, from complications related to advanced age. Services will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Carroll Brown will officiate. Friends may call from 2 p.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home, where casual dress is encouraged.

Esther was born Oct. 22, 1917, in Ethan, S.D., to loving parents, Herman and Anna (Sandman) Wittenhagen, and married William K. Condran in Davenport, Iowa in 1939. She retired from Collins Radio after working in various departments for 27 1/2 years.

Survivors include a son, Bill and wife Dorothy; four grandchildren, Lisa (Dave) Lyons, Kyle (Meah) Condran, Guy Condran and Brett Condran; seven great-grandchildren, Ty, Carter, Bryce, Skye, Izah, Kayla and Hannah; a brother, Larry Wittenhagen, and her sisters, Loretta Harders and Marian Jirsa, all of Mitchell, S.D.; brother-in-law, Bob Condran of Riverside, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1993; and a sister, Leona, in 1999 in Mitchell, S.D. Also preceding her in death were brothers-in-law, Dick Jirsa and Clayton Harders, and sister-in-law, Kitty Wittenhagen, all of Mitchell, S.D.

Esther's greatest moments in life were the times spent with her devoted family and friends. She lived for all holidays, but especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, where she would spend days on end baking holiday goodies (and big turkeys). She was the ‘world's best cook' in the eyes of her family and the one thing she really missed doing when she was no longer able to entertain. She was proud of her German heritage and loved to dance the polka in her earlier years. She was happiest when she could listen to polka music played on the accordion in her remaining years. She looked forward to Bingo days at the home and loved showing off her ‘winnings.' She loved summer for it meant she could put on a ‘color show' of flowers for all to admire as they drove down Clifton Street. She loved going out to eat and playing cards with her good friends, Betty and Mary Lou, and she was also blessed with wonderful neighbor friends, Linda and Zeta and Richard who helped her out in so many ways.

The family would like to extend a ‘special' thank you to Dr. Cearlock and staff for their kindnesses in caring for ‘Mom' over the last 30 years, and to the care and compassion provided to her and her family by the staff at Northbrook Manor which served as her home for the past year-and-a-half.

Friends may, if they wish, contribute to a charity of their choice.

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