- Date Of Birth: August 10, 1923
- Date Of Death: November 14, 2011
- State: Michigan
CONRAD, James Doster “Jim” died early Monday morning, November 14, 2011, in Kalamazoo. He was born August 10, 1923, in Toledo, OH, the son of Louis C. and Ruth Doster Conrad, and had lived in Kalamazoo since 1953.
He was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Army from 1942 to 1946. Jim was employed by Allied Paper for 39 years before he retired. Jim is remembered for being a friendly, quick-witted man. He was known for his cowboy hats and his love of the Detroit Tigers. Jim loved his daily walks and working in his garden and yard. He just loved being outside in the sunshine what he called “his office”. Jim was always ready to go, whether on a trip or just out to eat. Jim made annual deer hunting trips with his best friend, Jim Mendham, for over 50 years; fishing trips with son-in-law, Tom, and neighbor, and friend, Dick TenBusschen; Biloxi trips with his daughter and son-in-law; visited Mount Rushmore with his daughters; took an Alaskan cruise with his grandson; made multiple trips to Las Vegas with his daughters; and enjoyed visiting the cheese factory and the local casinos where he met and became friends with John Beaudoin.
On December 15, 1947, Jim was united in marriage with the former Doris Smith who preceded him in death on May 10, 2001.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Elizabeth Hannah, and two sons-in-law, Bob Ford and Tom Smith. Jim is survived by: two daughters, Nancy Smith and Kay Conrad, both of Kalamazoo; two grandchildren, Tim & Amy Ford and Jamiee & Garry McCue; four great-grandchildren, Austen & Trevor Ford and Morgan & Gabriel McCue; brother- and sisters-in-law, Charlotte & Larry Bush and Nancy Smith; and several nieces and nephews. Jim is also survived by his honorary daughter, Karen Powers, and family friends including John & Karen Beaudoin, Jim & Arliss Mendham, Dick & Fran TenBusschen, and Barb Sirotek.
