Joseph Konrad
Mystic— Joseph A. Konrad, 87, of Stoneridge in Mystic, formerly of Plant Street, New London, departed this world on May 12, 2012, and was reunited with his beloved wife, Bettie Konrad, who predeceased him March 27, 2012.
He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 5, 1925, the son of William Anton Konrad and Catherine M. Lawrence.
He married Bettie O’leary on Sept. 4, 1948, in St. Raphael Church, Pittsburgh. Mr. Konrad served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a second lieutenant navigator from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering and went on to a successful career in the field which brought him to Connecticut in 1961. He worked for several area companies and retired in 1990 from Analysis and Technology.
He was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in New London, a member of IEEE and the Thames Yacht Club where he served as rear commodore. Joe was an early home computer user in the 1970s and an amateur ham radio operator and as such was a member of SCRAMS. Mostly he was a loving husband and wonderful father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He is survived by his three sons, Michael Joseph Konrad and his wife, Sanne, of Portsmouth, R.I., Marc Vincent Konrad and his wife, Kathy, of Gales Ferry, Matthew Thomas Konrad of Killingworth; his three daughters, Marianne Bessette and her husband, Robert, of Pawcatuck, Meg Konrad of Clinton, Maureen A. Felker of Waterford; and his brother, William L. Konrad of Mystic. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Danielle Bessette of Cambridge, Mass., Nicole Bessette Gille of Kenai, Alaska, Rebekka Konrad of Jacksonville, Fla., Kaleen Konrad Childers of Newton, Mass., Cpl. William Felker USMC of Jacksonville, N.C., Devon Felker of Waterford, Kevin and Allison Konrad of Gales Ferry; and his three greatgrandchildren, Maya Konrad of Jacksonville, Gretchen and Wesley Gille of Kenai.
The family is deeply grateful for the special care and attention Joe received from Avalon Health Center at Stoneridge and Home Health Care Service and also for the friendship and community he found at Stoneridge in his later years.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday from at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. The funeral procession will assemble at 10:15 a.m. Friday at the funeral home and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church. Interment will be in Pittsburgh at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 238 West Town St., Norwich, CT 06360.
Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence message for the family.