M. Lowell Conrad

M. Lowell Conrad, 96, of Stevensville passed away on Monday, October, 26, 2009 at his home in Stevensville. A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held at 3:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Fr. William J. Jacobs officiating. Friends may call from 2:30 P.M. until 3:30 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Purdue University, c/o Laura Edwards, Director of Development Mechanical Engineering, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, Hospice At Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085, or the charity of the donors choice. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Lowell was born August 2, 1913 in Lapel, IN to David & Bertha Conrad. He graduated from Purdue University. On March 26, 1935 he married Dorothy Lange and was happily married for 74 years. Lowell worked principally in the construction machinery industry as an engineer designing earth movers. He worked for the F.G. Hough Company and Clarks Equipment's Michigan Tractor Shovel Division and has been retired for over thirty years. In his spare time he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. His grandson Marc and great grandson Marcus and Conrad were all named in his honor. Lowell is survived by his wife Dorothy (Lange) Conrad of Stevensville; three children Phyllis (Tom) Beyer, Thelma (Don) Ferguson, and David (Ann) Conrad; four grandchildren Diana (David) Betema, Laura Beyer DVM, Marc (Mary) Ferguson, Jean (Ferguson) (David) Thomas; five great grandchildren Benjamin, Katheryn, Ashley, Marcus and Conrad. Lowell was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Elizabeth Ann; sister Adelaide Tyson; and two brothers George and Curtis Conrad.