Jack Conrad

Truman "Jack" Conrad, 82, of Jackson passed away Thursday, April 7, 2011, at Jackson Manor.

He was born July 31, 1928, at Sedgewickville, Mo., son of L. Vern "Coonie" and Naomi Conrad. He and Marie Hartle were married June 30, 1969.

Growing up in a small country town Jack's mother would ask him to go and kill a chicken for Sunday dinner, and he would take his shotgun with him to the chicken coop and pick out a chicken and would kill only the chicken he picked out with the shotgun.

He attended Sedgewickville and Patton schools where he participated in every sport and graduated from Patton School. As a young man during World War II when ammunition was scarce, his father would only give him three shells. He would go out and kill either three rabbits or three squirrels or some of each.

In 1940 he moved to Cape Girardeau and worked at Florsheim Shoe Co. several years. He later became a licensed tugboat captain, and worked for Missouri Dry Dock 40 years until he retired. He was a licensed gun smith many years, traveling all over the U.S. with his associate, J.D. King. They attended several gun shows in several states before his health forced him to stop traveling. Many people in the area bought, traded or had Jack repair their guns.

He was also an accomplished country musician playing the fiddle and the dobro along with his brothers at dances and picnics. He was a member of Lions Club, NRA and Patton Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife Marie of Jackson; children, Arthur (Terri) Hartle of Frisco, Texas, Bill (Karen) Hartle of Marquand, Mo., Phyllis (Junior) Cook of Marble Hill, Mark Conrad of the state of Ohio, Shirley Rogers of Farmington, Mo., Sheila Beussink of Iowa City, Iowa; two brothers, Harold "Sam" (Mildred) Conrad of Cape Girardeau, Mark (Bonnie) Conrad of Opatka, Fla.; a sister, June Borgfield of Cape Girardeau; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, L.V. Jr., Wilbur (Chub), Jerry, Paul (Diz), Pat; a sister, Muriel Bollinger; and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Patton, Mo.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Nancy Gillard officiating. Burial will be in Patton Cemetery.