Joseph R. Conrad

Joseph Roberts Conrad was born to John Kenneth and Marguerite Josephine (Roberts) Conrad on August 17, 1937, at the Wray Hospital. He passed away June 7, 2022, at Hillcrest Care Center.

Joe grew up in Wray attending Wray Schools and graduating with the Class of 1955. As a young boy, he attended Lowell Whiteman Boys Camp in Steamboat Springs. He grew to love Steamboat and the Steamboat area. Over the years, Joe developed an interest in history. He spent a lot of time studying history.

Joe was the oldest of three boys in the family. Joe loved music and loved to sing. His mother played the piano and the boys gathered around and sang. Joe sang in a quintet.

He was very fond of his maternal grandparents, Buffer and Allie Roberts, and spent a lot of time with them. When things got hectic at home, he got on his bike and rode across town to his grandparents. He sometimes stayed a week.

He enrolled in Colorado A & M, now CSU studying Animal Science. After three years of college, Joe returned home to farming and ranching with his dad. Joe was proud of his selections and purchases of bulls for the ranch. He was equally proud of the cattle they produced. Joe along with his dad were original owners of 1256 Cattle Company.

Sometime after 1943, when his dad purchased the Charley and Dollie Park ranch which joined the Newbanks ranch, Joe met Madeline Newbanks. They were married in 1983. Joe and Madeline did not have children but enjoyed many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Myron Spencer and Izero (Coad) Newbanks, step-mother-in-law, Opal Newbanks, brothers, Kenneth Michael and Christopher Q Conrad, sisters-in-law, June Yost and husband, Wayne, Nell Wilson and husband, Cliff, brothers-in-law, John, Lloyd, Roy and Louis Newbanks.

Survivors include his wife, Madeline, sisters-in-law, JaLene Conrad, Connie Newbanks, Cheryl Newbanks, and Merna Skipworth and husband, Larry, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Viewing will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022, 10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Ben Beckner officiating. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.

Memorials may be made to the Wray Volunteer Fire Department, Hillcrest Care Center or the First Christian Church in Wray, Colorado. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.