Date of Birth:
Tuesday, November 4, 1930
Date of Death:
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Age:
83 years old

Lyle Leon Conrad

Lyle L. Conrad buckled up and flew onto the heavens on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 with his family by his side.

Born November 4, 1930 in Kosciusko County, Indiana, he was the son of Russell and Inez (nee Troxell) Conrad.  Lyle was raised on the farm and would always be a farmer at heart.  Lyle was schooled in Hepton and Napanee Indiana completing the ninth grade.

In 1947 his father had the dream of owning his own theater; Hayfield provided the answer.  Being 16, Lyle thought he better take a tour of South Eastern Minnesota before deciding whether to move.  He then rode to Hayfield on his ’46 Harley with a learners permit.  The Mars Theatre was born and Lyle was a projectionist alongside his father and brothers, mother selling tickets and popcorn.

Lyle took his first job at Jostens in Owatonna and then joined the Air Force from 1950-54. He was stationed in England and then at Rhein-Main AFB, Germany with 60^th Troup Carrier group 11^th Squadron.  He would also serve with the MN Air Guard 1957-60 as Staff Sargeant.  He valued the experiences, loved working on planes and seeing Europe.

After the Service, Lyle completed heavy equipment training in Idaho.  When he returned, he secured a job at Owatonna Tool Company.  Lyle was able to enjoy his toys and long drives with his ’57 and later a ’59 Corvette.

In 1961 Lyle was hired by IBM and moved to Rochester.  He was a tool and die specialist at IBM for 32 years, a position he loved and appreciated.  In 1962 he built a home in NW Rochester, then soon after, he met Mary (Butler) Ball – an industrial nurse at IBM.  He asked Mary out for New Year’s Eve three months in advance, and wedding bells tolled June 6, 1963 at St. Francis Church.

From this union five children were born.  The family had an acre garden every year.  He taught his children how to ride their bikes, built them box kites and built a RV out of a ‘47 Flxible bus that slept eight, with a full size frig and a great air horn.  He would take his family on small adventures to new places.  He also put a two-story addition onto the house.  Lyle enjoyed listening to Polka, country western, classical music, woodworking and fabricating, hunting, fishing, ice cream and great weather.

Lyle retired from IBM in 1991. He and Mary did some traveling but also started canning together, they even made their own horseradish and lived to tell about it.  Lyle’s hands were seldom idle.

Lyle was a devoted husband, father and provider for his family.  We know we were blessed to have Lyle as our brother and father.  He was wise and responsible person who was modest and always willing to lend a hand.  We’ll always be your cowboys Dad, rest in peace.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, son John, brother Lotus and great grand-daughter Lillyann Hayden.

Left to miss him deeply are his brother Devon (Irene) Conrad, Whitewater, WI, sister-in-law Jacqueline Conrad, Rochester, children Robert Ball, Dodge Center, Micki Ball, Winona, Theresa (Edward) Nielson, Susan (Michael) Pitzer, all of Rochester, Karen Barnes, Tucson, AZ and David (fiancée Jennifer Broz) of Rochester.  Grandchildren Ashley Pitzer, Michael (Ashley) Pitzer, Kathryn (Justin) Hayden, Emma Barnes and great-grandson Liam Hayden.

The funeral service for Lyle will held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 11:45AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 from 4:00pm until 7:00PM in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation on the day of the funeral will begin at 10:30AM. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 92 of Rochester.

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.