Gilbert J. Konrad

GILBERT JAMES KONRAD ~ February 10, 1920 - April 8, 2010

Gilbert "Gib" James Konrad was born February 10, 1920 in rural Warren County near Rosemont, Iowa. He was the seventh child of Andrew and Isabel (Bauer) Konrad's ten children. He was a twin to Wilfred (Bill) Joseph Konrad. He attended Rosedale School. He, as well as his brothers and sisters, took turns helping their elderly grandparents on their farm. Gib joined the U.S. Army December 10, 1942. He fought for his country in Northern France and Central Europe. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, One Service Stripe, Three Overseas Service Bars, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze battle stars and a Purple Heart. He was wounded in the shoulder in Germany on October 14, 1944 and was sent to Paris, France and from there to London, England. He was due to go back to the fighting when the war ended and he was discharged December 6, 1945 and returned to Iowa. He returned to farming, working on several farms in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.

In 1946 Gib moved to Denver, Colorado where he joined his brothers Jerry, Bill and Charlie working for Espy Ice Company/City Ice and Cold Storage. He worked various jobs for the company during his 36 years of employment there. He drove the company bulldozer, was a nighttime engineer pulling ice, delivered ice to various truck farmers, blew ice into railroad bunkers and trucks of produce, worked in the cold storage loading, unloading, stacking boxes and planted flowers and shrubs around the front of the ice house. He also worked for the company cutting and delivering mountain ice (ice off a mountain lake) to Denver for Espy Ice. After retirement, Gib still took care of the shrubs and flowers at the ice plant. He met and remained friends with many of his co-workers.

In 1950, Gib married Helen Egoroff. They became parents of Dale, Stuart, Lloyd and Lewis. In 1975 he married Winifred (Anderson) Ratkovich and became a father to Kathy, Diane and John. One of his favorite activities with them was fishing. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him much joy and comfort.

Gib had several interests in his life. He loved taking care of his lawn, gardening, fishing, camping, traveling and doing woodworking. He shared his love of these activities with all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After he retired in 1982, the first trip he took was to visit his sister Helen Zaring in LaHabra, CA. He also enjoyed traveling to visit friends and relatives in Iowa and visiting places of his youth. Traveling to Texas to visit Dale and Stuart, to Arizona to visit Kathy and Mike and to Hendersen, NV to visit longtime friends John and Ginny Stobaugh was a trip he never tired of. In 1982, he flew to Las Vegas for the first time with Wini and brother-in-law Marion and Mary Anderson. There he was introduced to slot machines and it was an instant friendship!! When gambling was introduced to Colorado, Gib enjoyed "going up the hill." He made many trips there with his favorite gambling buddies, Stuart and Melissa. He also enjoyed many fishing and camping trips with Jerry and Betty.

In 1986, Gib and Wini moved to Tabor, Iowa where they helped her partents, George and Faye Anderson. He enjoyed driving between their homes on his garden tractor to mow their lawn. At his home in Tabor, Gib and his brother-in-law, George, remodeled the house he bought. He made a comfortable home for himself and Wini. Their home was on an acre of ground which Gib planted in grass. The property was surrounded by trees, which he enjoyed maintaining. He took great pride in his home, keeping the lawn mowed at all times. He had a large garden there also, which he enjoyed. Grand-daughters, Melissa and Christine would spend their summers in Iowa and have many fond memories of their "Poppie" there, going camping, fishing, helping mow the lawn, etc. Taking fishing and camping trips with George and Fumiko was a favorite passtime.

In 1994, after the death of his in-laws, Gib wished to move back to Colorado to be closer to family. In his later years he began woodworking, making wooden lawn ornaments. He was proud to say he had ornaments across the country, from California to Pennsylvania. As he got older, he encouraged Stuart to take over the cutting of the ornaments and he did the sanding and some painting. He also taught his great-granddaughters, Alexia and Rayna to plant flowers and plant a garden. Visits from his family and friends brought him much joy and comfort.

Gib passed away at his home in Thornton, CO on April 8, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Winifred, sons Dale of Waxahachie, TX, Stuart of Roanoke, TX, daughters Kathy and Mike Styes of Phoenix, AZ, Diane and Gene Brown of Arvada, CO, grand-daughters Melissa Brown of Northglenn, CO, Christine and Damien Durnen of Broomfield, CO, great-grand-daughters Alexia and Rayna Durnen of Broomfield, CO. He was also survived by his sister Helen Zaring of LaHabra, CA, sister-in-law Alice Konrad of Arvada, CO, brothers-in-law Marion and Mary Anderson of Julesburg, CO, George and Fumiko Anderson of Hastings, NE and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sons, Lloyd Konrad and Lewis Konrad and step-son John Ratkovich. Also preceding him were his parents, Andrew and Isabel (Bauer) Konrad, sister Margaret and Carl Klein, brothers Ireanus (Rene) and Anna, Allen and Alice, Albert (Bert) all of Lacona, IA, Gerald and Betty and Floyd (Charlie) of Arvada, CO, Marcus and Wilfred (Bill) Konrad, brother-in-law Frank Zaring of LaHabra, CA, and daughters-in-law, Debra Konrad and Cynthia Konrad.

Gib was a lifetime member of VFW Post 7064 in Tabor, IA and the George G. Klumker 22 Chapter of the DAV in Arvada, CO.

Graveside services will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Friday, April 16, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.