John Warren "Skip" Conard, Jr, born September 1, 1943, in Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 82, surrounded by his loving family. He grew up in Coolidge, Kansas with his brother, Edward Dale Conard, and his sister, Barbara (Conard) Latty; his sister Susan (Conard) Pauls came along after he was already an adult. His early years on the farm, baling hay, and bagging groceries in his parents’ grocery store shaped his lifelong work ethic, love for the land, and serving others. He played baseball and basketball and carried with him the grit and humility of those early years for the rest of his life.
John met the love of his life at Ashland Christian Church Camp, and their paths crossed again at Manhattan Christian College. John and Charlotte married that first summer on August 17, 1963 and continued their studies together. After transferring to Fort Hays State University, John walked on to the basketball team and earned his Bachelor of Science in Zoology degree. Charlotte earned her degree in Home Economics, and together they began their lives as high school teachers before John was drafted into the United States Army in June 1968.
From the beginning, John distinguished himself. He rose quickly through the enlisted ranks, completed rigorous training at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, and earned his commission as an officer. In June 1969, he deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a Field Artillery Unit Commander during one of the most challenging periods of the war.
John’s year in Vietnam was marked by bravery and sacrifice. He led soldiers in combat, endured the hardships of war, and continued to serve even after being wounded in action—an injury for which he received the Purple Heart. His leadership and valor earned him two Bronze Star Medals, a Silver Star, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm among other awards. These honors reflect courage, leadership, and exceptional service in combat. After returning home from Vietnam, John continued to serve with distinction at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he continued to serve in artillery units and completed additional training and eventually rose to the rank of Captain. He completed nearly four years of active duty and continued his commitment in the U.S. Army Reserve.
After serving his country with courage in Vietnam, John earned his master’s in business administration and celebrated with the purchase of his beloved 1954 GMC truck—a graduation gift to himself that became a treasured part of the family story. In that truck, he taught all three children how to drive a stick shift. Its modest top speed of 45 mph was, perhaps, Dad’s quiet wisdom at work and his way of keeping them safe. Shawn does remember getting a speeding ticket in that truck so maybe 45mph was not its top speed.
He dedicated more than 35 years to Wyeth Ayerst as a pharmaceutical salesman, earning multiple awards including the Golden Circle award given to the top 2% of all salesmen in the country. Known for his genuine interest in people, John built lasting relationships through kindness, humor, and encouragement. His success was never about numbers; it was about people. He listened. He cared. He remembered their stories. His gift was connection, and he offered it freely. After retirement, he continued to share his business knowledge by teaching his sons and grandchildren about the value of financial stewardship. He loved sharing knowledge that could help others build a better future.
But perhaps the truest measure of John’s life was the way he encouraged others. He spent his final days while he was still able to tell everyone who called him or stopped by that he was proud of them and that he loved them, especially his grandchildren. He offered hope through handwritten cards, thoughtful letters, uplifting texts, the occasional practical joke, and the jokes that ended nearly every phone call. His favorite reminder— “Make it a great day; that way you’ll know it will be good”—was more than a saying. It was a philosophy he lived by.
As we come upon Memorial Day and July 4th we can all remember our Dad and what these days meant to him. For us it meant chilled Colorado watermelon, firecrackers, homemade ice cream, and laughter. He would always send a text on these days that would include a poem by Father Dennis E. O'Brien that reminded us it was the soldiers who fought and died who gave us our freedoms we cherish today.
Family vacations included trips to the Royal Gorge, Four Corners, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Black Hills, and to Beulah, Colorado, where we hiked and explored. But most summers were spent in Sublette at Grandma Lower’s farm, where Charlotte cooked for the harvest crew and John worked the fields. His final harvest was in the fall of 2025 at age 82—a testament to his lifelong devotion to the land.
John taught his children and helped teach his grandchildren how to garden, how to grow kohlrabi, how to savor sardines, and how to enjoy Bing cherries even when they were not considered to be in the budget that week. He taught his children how to make his famous chocolate chip cookies and Saturday mornings were when he made pancakes shaped like animals, flowers, hearts or snow people. He and Charlotte became known for their homemade fudge and goodie boxes delivered around town to encourage those they knew.
Some of the sweetest moments were simple ones—reading the funnies in the Sunday morning newspaper and Sunday nights watching Disney with popcorn, staying up late to watch MASH if we were quiet enough, or hearing him laugh until he cried at Grumpy Old Men and its sequel. We played those movies for him in his final days, and even then, they brought him joy. He was committed to his grandchildren and spent countless hours playing checkers, Uno, Battleship, Monopoly, and croquet in the backyard. He cherished every moment spent with family.
He approached life with patience and a deep appreciation for the finer details. He was an avid collector of history, taking great pride in his rare coins and unique barbed wire collections. One of his favorite past times, however, was found in the quiet care of his beautiful flower beds. True to his generous character, he carefully saved his flower seeds each year to share with close friends, leaving behind a living legacy of beauty and friendship that will continue to bloom for generations to come.
His faith was steady and sincere and guided his life. He made sure his family was in church while raising the children. John and Charlotte were avid encouragers of supporting various mission fields and often had missionaries in our home, including Mike and Carolyn Schrage from Schrage Christian Mission. This past spring, John was able to attend his grandson Samuel’s baptism—a moment that now holds deep significance as the last event he was able to share.
We can honor Dad by living with the same kindness, courage, and generosity he showed every day. May we carry his words in our hearts— “Make it a great day”— and may we find comfort in knowing that because of him, we know how to do just that.
John is survived by his wife, Charlotte L Conard, his children, Tisha Conard Richardson (Brad); Jay Conard (Misty); and Dr. Shawn Conard (Gayly); his grandchildren, Eli, Lenna Frater (Nathan), Abigayl, Nate, Clara, and Wesley Conard; Joseph Kosko (Kelsie), Kaitlyn Kosko, and Samuel Foster; his great grandchild, Theodore Kosko; and his sisters, Barbara Latty and Susan Pauls (John), his niece Lauren Pauls (Joel Guy) and nephews, David Latty and Daniel Pauls. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, John W "Mate" Conard, Sr & Betty Conard; brother, Edward Dale Conard; and father-and mother-in-law, Harold and Lena Lower.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 11:00AM at Sublette Christian Church, Sublette, KS with Mike Schrage of Schrage Christian Missions presiding. Luncheon will be immediately following the Memorial Service, and the Committal Service will follow the luncheon at Haskell County Cemetery in Sublette, KS with Pastor David Erwin presiding and joined with Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be given to Schrage Christian Mission, P.O. Box 444, Joplin, MO 64802-0444; Sublette Christian Church, 106 W Carsen, Box E, Sublette, Kansas 67877 or Manhattan Christian College, 1415 Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502-4081.