David R. Conrad, 93, of Woodstock, died on Aug. 5, 2021, at home. Originally from Aurora, Ill., he had been a resident of Woodstock since 2007. Prior to this time, he had lived in Sugar Grove, Ill., DeKalb, Ill., and in Lander, Wyo. Mr. Conrad, U.S. Navy veteran of WW II, was stationed aboard the submarine USS Bumper, SS-333, based at Pearl Harbor, and later served at the submarine base at Midway Islands.
He was born on Sept. 11, 1927, in Aurora, where he attended public schools. He graduated from East Aurora High School, received a B.S. in business administration at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a M.S. degree at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He had a long career serving with several public utilities and finishing his career as personnel director at Northern Illinois University, where he retired in 1993. In DeKalb he was a member and chairman of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, president of the DeKalb Rotary Club and the DeKalb United Way, Board of Directors of the Kishwaukee YMCA and the Salvation Army. He served on the DeKalb Police and Fire Commission. He was chairman of the Personnel Directors Advisory Committee to the Merit Board and served as alderman for the First Ward. He was a member of the Kishwaukee Country Club.
In Lander, Mr. Conrad was an active member of Bethel Ev Lutheran Church, serving in several offices. While living in Woodstock, he was an active member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Crystal Lake. He was a member of the USS Bumper, SS-333 Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 15052, American Legion Post 2910, Northern Illinois University Alumni Association, American Numismatic Association, and Galizien German Descendants. Mr. Conrad was an avid traveler with strong interests in bible study, history, genealogy, numismatics, and American Indian artifacts. He is survived by his stepson Michael Walrod of Norwood, Mass.; stepson Brett Walrod and his wife, Laurie, of Woodstock; stepdaughter Elizabeth Lazear and her husband, James, of Anaheim Hills, Calif; former daughter-in-law Peggy Walrod of Duxbury, Mass.; five grandsons; two granddaughters; and several nephews and a niece.
He was proceeded in death by his wife, Beverly (Walrod) Conrad; brothers Norman Conrad and Donald Conrad; sisters Ruth Townsend and Florence Cooper; and his parents, Frieda and Philip Conrad Jr. Mr. Conrad had a grateful heart and abiding love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Graveside Christian/military services and interment will be held on Thursday, Aug. 19., at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb, with Rev. Larry Rubeck, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Crystal Lake, Ill., officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Conrad Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home Ltd., P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, visit AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.