John Conrad

John Mark Conrad, 68, of Carey, formerly of King Hill and Glenns Ferry, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, of complications due to an extended illness at the Boise Veterans Hospital.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 25, at the Carey LDS Chapel. Interment and military rites were held at the Carey Cemetery. Arrangements were under the care of Wood River Chapel of Hailey.

John was born July 2, 1940, in King Hill, the son of Barbara Isabell (Dalton) and Frank Esick Conrad. They moved to Glenns Ferry about 1947. He attended grades 1-12 in Glenns Ferry and graduated in 1958. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Navy as a firefighter and was assigned aboard the USS York-town (CV-10). He was able to go and see many places before being injured aboard the ship, his family noted.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1962 he worked for the Idaho State Highway Department in Arco, Mackay and later Carey. He retired from the state in May 1973 because of his health.

He married Edith Casper on June 22, 1963, in the Idaho Falls Temple.

John was active in his children's activities and enjoyed attending their many activities. "You could always see him on the sideline cheering his children on," his family said. "He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening.

"He was an avid John Deere collector, and collected quarters for his grandchildren.

"The last few years, he enjoyed spending time at his summer home on the Central Oregon Coast, and you could always find him crabbing with his grandkids on the docks and socializing with the locals there," his family added. "He never met a stranger and was always striking up a conversation with someone."

John was a member of the Farm Bureau, the Lions Club and participated in the 4-H Organization on many levels.

He was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1953 and served in many capacities over his lifetime.

He is survived by: his wife, Edith; his children, Frank Conrad of Carey, Mark (Tasha) Conrad of Missoula, Mont., Robin (Marion) Fiscus of Carey, and Rhonda (Thomas) Stewart of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in Oak Harbor, Wash.; one brother, James Dalton; two sisters, Edna Charpilloz of South Beach, Ore., and Mary Hansen of Salem, Ore.; 13 grandchildren and one great grandson who resided with him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Roy Knuteson.