Herman E. Conrad age 97 of Westbrook formerly of Slayton passed away Friday, September 22, 2017 at Our House of Murray County Hospice in Slayton. Memorial Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday September 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be at Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery in Dovray. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Herman E. Conrad was born July 22, 1920 to Gustav and Louise Conrad in Port Vue, Pennsylvania. He was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran in McKesport, Pennsylvania. Herman graduated from McKesport High School and later attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Valparaiso University and received his Masters at Drake University. He served in the US Army Air Force from 1942-1945 he was in the 8th Bomber Group in the European Theater in England. Herman participated in 25 missions. In 1949 he worked for the Forest Service. On March 9, 1957 Herman married Janet Bies at Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He taught for three years in Nebraska and he later bought a resort in Park Rapids. Herman took a teaching job in Slayton teaching Biology for 23 years. Later he bought a clothing store, Bernie’s V Store, and retired in 1989. Herman drove school bus, prepared taxes for several years and was an EMT Ambulance Responder. He lived in Westbrook until 2014 and then moved to Country View in Walnut Grove. Herman was a member of the American Legion and was active in church as a Deacon and Treasurer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton and Westbrook. He enjoyed fishing, reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Herman loved to travel and spent many winters in Texas.
Herman is survived by his children: Carl (DeAnn) Conrad of Westbrook and Carrie (Bob) Peterson of Foley; grandchildren: Anthony Conrad (special friend Jessica Noding), Brittany (Justin) Wulf, Erin Conrad (special friend Dylan Maas), Miranda Peterson and Mitchell Peterson; great-grandchildren: Madison and Grayson Wulf. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Janet on September 11, 2016, siblings Ella Deemer, Fredrick Conrad, Dorothy Hedstrom, Martha Ray and Gustaf Conrad.
My sincere sympathy to the Herman Conrad family. Losing loved ones is so difficult, but now Carl and Carrie, you have lost both your mom and dad.. Thank God you were blessed with loving parents who set such fine examples for you and your families. I never knew about all the different places Herm lived, or all the various jobs he had. He contributed much to the world, and made it a better place in which to live. I am sure he enriched the lives of all his students in Slayton. I didn’t know either that he was in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII. May you cherish happy memories of time with Herm. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. With love to all of you, Eunice Christensen
Carrie and Carl, what wonderful memories we have of growing up together as Slayton neighbors! From sharing a telephone party line to playing outdoor games to putting up with our parents’ card parties. And our parents were the very best of friends. We are thinking of you and praying that you have support around you in the coming days, especially now having lost both Jan and Herm. And that it is comforting to know that as Christians they are in heaven (likely back to card games with Milt and Lonny).
Blessings from the Schroeder family – Sandy Mueller, Curt Schroeder and Renae Buchheim.
Blessed be the memory of Herman Conrad, and we have a lot of memories of him, too. We will be giving a memorial to the Tammy E. Benson Scholarship fund, at WWG High School, in memory of Herman, and Jan Conrad, the best of good friends. God bless your family, and know that God loves us. Roger and Carolyn Benson
Our sincere sympathy Carl, Carrie and all of Herm’s family and loved ones. You were blessed to have such a gentle and kind father and mother. No matter our age it hurts deeply to lose a parent. You brought joy and love to their lives. God Bless You.
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your dad. I remember him from Bernie’s store as well as when we would hang out at your house. He didn’t always hear what we were saying (maybe that’s a good thing) but that didn’t stop him from always being part of our “girl talk”. He was always trying to instill some words of wisdom in us, hopefully some of it actually sunk in! I will always remember him as a kind, sweet man. He will be missed.
God bless you all during this difficult time.
Ann (Rachuy) Tighe
What a lovely obituary and what a full, interesting life. Thinking of you, Karl and Carrie.