CONKLIN, Jack Matthews 1918-2003

CONKLIN, MATTHEWS, CORDES

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/9/2009 at 22:18:41

OSAGE, IOWA — Jack Matthews Conklin, 84, of Osage died Thursday (June 26, 2003) at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Jack Matthews Conklin was born Oct. 11, 1918, in Clear Lake, the son of Harry and Helen (Matthews) Conklin. The family moved to Osage in 1927, when Harry became assistant county engineer for Mitchell County.

Jack graduated from Osage High School in 1936. After graduation he completed graduate studies in commercial art and was a vocal soloist for WHO radio and played string bass in the Conky Conklin and His Commodores Dance Band.

Jack was married to Ruth Cordes on Sept. 22, 1940, in Osage. He then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as the crew chief of a B-25 bomber.

After receiving his discharge, he operated the Conklin Stamp Company, managed the Green Parrot Restaurant in Decorah for a brief period, was a division manager for the Motor Club of Iowa, and in 1960 started selling Conklin chemical products with his father.

In 1969, Jack, with his brother Bob, founded Conklin Company, Inc. in Burnsville, Minn., which is now located in Shakopee, Minn.

Jack was Conklin’s Senior Vice President and the creator of the Harry Conklin Museum. He retired in 1992. In 2002 Jack gifted the Harry Conklin Museum to the Mitchell County Historical Society.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the United Church of Christ, 630 State St., in Osage with the Rev. Robert Melhorn officiating. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery with Military Rites by Osage American Legion Post 278.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Champion – Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and one hour before services at the church.

He is survived by one daughter, Ellen Elsbury, of Osage; one granddaughter, Mrs. David (Tanya) Womeldorf of Lakeville, Minn.; one great-granddaughter, Samantha Womeldorf of Lakeville, Minn.; one sister, Mrs. Sam (Ann) Erickson of Brick, New Jersey; one aunt, Mrs. Jean Knutson of Clear Lake.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth, on Oct. 2, 2001; and brother, Robert.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home (641) 732-3706.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]