Obituary-img

Charles Conrad

September 23, 1946 ~ November 23, 2021

Charles Edward Conrad, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died at home on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, 2021, with a funeral service following at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity-St. James United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. The church respectfully requests masks to be worn inside the church building. Survivors include children, Teenah (Pat) Oldham, Tami (Bud) Lancaster, and Robert C. (Tori) Conrad; grandchildren, Cody, Samantha, Kealey, Raegan, Riley, and Griffin, great grandson, Waylon; special friend and companion, Mary White; siblings, Roberta Armstrong and Joanna (Norman) Schanz; and his loyal dog, Sarge. Charlie was born on September 23, 1946 in Cedar Rapids, the son of Robert E. and Jane (Grissel) Conrad. He graduated from Jefferson High School, served in the US Army, and was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 263. He spent the majority of his career with Grissel Company and ultimately retired with D&S Sheet Metal. Charlie loved to cook during the holidays for his family and at the annual apprenticeship competition for his coworkers. His all-time favorite was hog roasts celebrating weddings and graduations for family, friends, and often strangers. He was also known for his bountiful garden, so much so that he became known to his grandchildren as 'Grandpa Garden'. After his retirement from the sheet metal trade, he gravitated to wood working projects building bird houses, furniture, and most recently assisting his partner Mary with her beautiful crafts and cards. Most of all, for those that really knew Charlie, he was known for his generous and loving heart. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Carla Siedel and Patricia (Bob) Wade.

Video Link

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Cedar Rapids

  2. Memories of Charlie by his oldest sister: Dad used to put his service revolver on a nail in a high cupboard above the refrigerator in our house on Johnson Avenue. (It was so high, I don’t think I could even reach it even when I grew up.) He usually took the bullets out and then put the gun on the nail. I don’t know how old Charlie was, quite young I believe, but he pushed a chair over to the counter, climbed up, tried to grab the gun when it went off. He jumped down, the chair fell over, and Dad came running. Of course, “I don’t know” did it. Having two older sisters and two younger sisters, Charlie grew up being teased often. Until the day we were after him for something (I’m sure he did something to piss us off) and he climbed up on a tree stump in Grandpa Carl’s yard with a baseball bat and dared us to touch him. We didn’t tease him as much after that, but he did put up with a lot. Charlie and I took a bus ride up to Wisconsin to see Uncle Earl and Aunt Anna when I had vacation time. I think I was 17 and Charlie was 10. He slept on their front porch and I slept in a bed they had put in an out building. (Jo might remember that when the whole family went one time.) I heard a shot, got up and went out only to have Charlie throw a snake he had shot at me. I screamed so loud, their dog didn’t come out from under Aunt Anna’s bed until the next day. To this day, I don’t know if the snake was dead or not. Charlie was always there for everyone if they needed anything. He always gave generously and with a smile. I am so glad he was my brother.

  3. What I was looking for Verses What I got…..
    The first thing I noticed when I met Charlie was … his smile, not a big smile, sort of a grin and a quiet laugh. I took this as a challenge and was determined to make him laugh. Neither of us wanting anything serious. His loss was pretty recent and mine had been over 6 years. Our conversations in the beginning were about our spouses Chris and Ron, family, likes and dislikes. He didn’t mind talking about our past and would ask me about Ron. He thought he wanted someone our age to talk to, have a meal with, a companion. I on the other hand wanted to travel, go out to eat, do things. But he was interesting to talk to and I liked him. And he was a very good cook. Up front, we just wanted to enjoy life and have someone around once in a while to enjoy it with. But as time went on, we got use to each other being there. Early on he told me he loved me, that wasn’t supposed to happen. And I realized I loved him too. Didn’t really matter that he didn’t want to travel, that he didn’t want to eat out, or do a lot. We were happy just watching TV, playing cards, cooking and crafting. He would try so hard not to laugh at things… I would egg him on until he burst…. He thought I was perfect… boy did I pull the wool over his eyes there…lol… never an unkind word, loving, thoughtful and willing to give. He never realized the kind of man he was, never thought he did enough, but he gave 110%. We changed each other in many ways, hopefully for the good. He told me he loved me more than I could ever know, but I did know, he was one of a kind and I loved him.

  4. Teenah, Kealey, and Pat: I’m so sorry for the loss of such a guidepost in your life. My sincerest condolences to you. You will be in my prayers.

  5. Rob, Tori and Family, we are sorry for your loss, you have our deepest sympathies. Sending love and hugs.


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle