Merle Conard

Merle B Conard, 90, of Berrien Center, MI, passed away at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center, Saturday, June 25, 2011. Merle was born on March 20, 1921, in Cayuga, IN, the eldest child of Alfred and Dolly (Beaver) Conard. In spite of the Great Depression, he made it through the 8th grade, then had to leave school and work to help support the family. He shoveled and hauled coal, labored in many occupations, and joined the Civil Conservation Corp to feed the family on $20 per month. He was a master with his hands, could repair or gerry-rig about anything, and his unspoken motto was “I can do it”. He was a factory worker, painter, salesman, cabinet-maker, refrigeration engineer, and mechanical maintenance supervisor. Merle always found work, refused to take unemployment payments his entire life, and he taught his children a strong work ethic. He was drafted into the United States Army on August 23, 1944, and participated under fire in three Pacific beach landings (Okinawa, Saipan and Leyte). As a heavy machine gunner, Merle was always on the front lines, and in one daring raid he and a buddy used explosive satchels to knock out a huge enemy gun that was firing at Navy ships. He lost many companions in the landings and subsequent fierce fighting; he received the Purple Heart, along with other decorations for bravery. He said many times with a laugh, “The Army did the work, and the Marines got the glory!” Merle loved to have fun, taking his family on wonderful swimming trips, and no fish was safe from his rod and reel. He taught his children to fish, and loved to fish with them and with his dad. He made friends easily. He experienced a life-changing conversion when he heard Billy Graham preach on television, and for the rest of his life faithfully read the Bible, attended church as long as he was able, and spoke to everyone about his love for Jesus Christ. Merle is survived by two sons, William Wayne (Ruth) Conard of Rock Hill, SC, and Dennis Earl (Jan) Conard of Hemet, CA; two daughters, Brenda Sue (David) Merkel of Berrien Springs, MI, and Margaret Ann (Glenn) Poole of Benton Harbor, MI; 12 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, and a brother, Melvin Conard, of South Bend, IN. He is also survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Sarah Belle (Montague) Conard of Benton Harbor, MI. Three of the Conard brothers served simultaneously in WWII: Merle, Gerald and Howard. Merle was preceded in death by two brothers, Gerald Conard, and Howard Conard, a medic, who died in battle three days before the armistice of WWII; and a sister Rhoda Koessler. Friends may call from 5:30 to 7:00 PM Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday at Oakridge Baptist Church, 766 Oakridge Dr., St. Joseph; officiated by Rev. Dave Broome. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs. Memorials may be made to Lakeland Auxiliary at Berrien Center, 6418 Dean's Hill Road, Berrien Center, MI 49102 or Designed to be Pillars, P.O. Box 120494, St. Paul, MN 55112 or www.designedtobepillars.org . Friends wishing to send a condolence may do so at the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com