Robert E. “Bob” Conrad, 83, of Coos Bay passed away Thursday. He was born in Uniontown, Kansas to Thomas and Della Rae (Gage) Conrad. Bob grew up in a large, close, fun-loving family. He was educated in Kansas and Washington states public schools.

Bob’s happiest times were spent with his family, hunting, fishing and camping, gardening, remodeling his home and hosting big family reunions where he would roast a pig in a pit and together with his six brothers would regale the entire extended family with accounts of their youthful shenanigans, tall tales of outrageous pranks they played on each other and hilarious anecdotes from their many hunting expeditions (some of their stories may even have been true).

When World War II broke out two of his older brothers joined the Navy and soon found themselves in the middle of some of the major battles in the Pacific Theater. Bob wanted to enlist too but being a few weeks too young had to wait until his eighteenth birthday when he was finally sworn into the U.S. Navy. He remained in the Navy through three wars; World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. In 1965 Bob retired from the Navy and went to work for the Sweet Home School District in custodial and maintenance work until his final retirement in 1987.

Bob was a man of character. He quietly taught his children and grandchildren by example. He will always be remembered by all of them as a role model of gentleness and strength, honesty, integrity, morality, faithfulness, dependability, generosity, loyalty, kindness, caring, wisdom, hard working and self control, and add to all of that his unforgettable sense of humor. Bob could always make his family laugh. He was also a man of strong faith. Bob didn’t talk a lot about his Christianity he just lived it every single day. He was a member of the Sweet Home Evangelical Church for 45 years, the last seven years of which he also belonged to the First Christian Church of North Bend, Oregon.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marie E. “Bette” (Voetmann) Conrad; sons, Dan and wife Vanessa Conrad of Sweet Home and John and wife Kelly Conrad of North Bend; daughters, Deb Conrad of Coos Bay and Cyndi and husband Tom Rinehart of Sweet Home; brothers, Charles and wife Lillian Conrad of Corvallis, Dick and wife Norma Conrad of Davenport, Washington and Don and wife Cindy Conrad of Waterloo; sister, June and husband Dave Lawrence of Port Hueneme, California; fifteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren, 31 nephews and nieces and a multitude of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Della Conrad; daughter, Linda Conrad; brothers, Tom, Jim and David Conrad and sisters Edith Mason and Ruth Duerre.

Viewing will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Monday, September 6th at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Graveside service will be 10:00 am Tuesday, September 7th at Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home. A light lunch will follow at the Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long Street, Sweet Home followed by a Memorial service 1:00 pm with Reverend Don Preston presiding.

In lieu of flowers the family requests tax deductible contribution may be made to Team River Runner PDX, 5007 Stone Road, Rockville, MD 20853. This organization provides recreational experiences for wounded veterans to teach them that they can still do things they thought they would never be able to do again.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel