Conrad C. MANDAL

MANDAL, SATHER, BOLDEN, HACKBARTH, MUHLENBRUCH, STOVER, DARLAND, NICHOLS, EICHER, PARR, KRUPKNICK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/28/2015 at 15:32:33

September 1, 1920 --- January 24, 2015

Conrad C. Mandal, age 94, of Dows, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. Funeral services for Conrad C. Mandal will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday January 28, 2015 at Morgan United Methodist Church in rural Dows. Burial will take place in the Morgan Township Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be provided by the American Legion Watson Beach Post #523 of Dows. Visitation for Conrad Mandal will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Dugger Funeral Home, 100 Lee St. in Dows is in charge of arrangements.

Conrad (Connie) was born September 1, 1920, in Arnegard, North Dakota, and was the son of Odin and Anna Sather Mandal. After high school he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Badlands under President Roosevelt’s plan to clean up the parks. On November 28, 1942, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy where he served on the USS Saratoga. In addition to serving in the infirmary of the Saratoga, Connie was based at Fleet Hospital #12 on Rogers Island, but the most difficult assignment was being attached to the 3rd Marine Division. The Marine Corps didn’t train and employ their own combat medics but used Navy Medics. The Navy Medics trained and fought with their Marines. While with the 3rd Marine Division, Connie was involved in the assault on Iwo Jima. They went ashore within the first week of the assault and remained until the island was secured. That fight was one of the most fierce and costly of the South Pacific Theater. Few among us can imagine the horrible carnage those Marines and their Navy Medics endured. The Navy “docs” risked their lives daily to give aid and comfort to the wounded and dying. It is said this generation of warriors did nothing less than save the Western civilization. It was while based at Fleet Hospital #12 that Connie bunked next to a sailor from Dows,Iowa. That sailor, Wally Bolden, was looking at the pictures in his wallet one evening when Connie saw an image of a young lady who would become the love of his life. He got the address, started corresponding with her and that led to 64 years of marriage. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Pharmacist’s First Mate on January 12, 1946 earning the honors of the American Area Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. After his discharge from the Navy he was offered by one of the surgeons he served with to go to New York to work as his anesthesiologist. Instead, a special picture he saw in his roommate’s wallet put him on a train to Dows, Iowa.

On June 30, 1946, Connie was united in marriage to Faith Hackbarth, wife and soul mate for 64 years. After their marriage they lived for a short time in Iowa Falls. To this union, two children were born, Kathie and John. After the death of Faith's father, they moved back to the family farm in Morgan Township and took over the family farming business. Connie also enjoyed driving the school bus for several years. He loved to visit, and everyone knew he loved his hot cup of coffee and a cookie. He was a devoted father, grandfather and uncle to his entire family. He was active in the Morgan Methodist Church where he served on many boards.

Connie is survived by his daughter, Kathie (Neil) Muhlenbruch, of Dows; son, John (Cindy) Mandal of Dows; granddaughters, Stacey (Wes) Stover of Huxley and Krystal Muhlenbruch of Dows; grandson, Tyson (Kendra) Muhlenbruch of Des Moines; step-granddaughter, Heather (Eric) Darland of Eagle Grove; step-grandson, Jeremy (Christa) Nichols of Alden; great-grandchildren Brady, Trinity and Blake Stover; Karson Muhlenbruch; Jacob and Haley Jo Darland, and Lexi and Clay Nichols; Sisters Ella (Frank) Eicher of Louisville, Kentucky and, Mitzie Parr of Georgetown, Indiana and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Faith Mandal; brothers, Henry, Otto and Einar; sisters Marie, Agnes, Helga, Baby Ella, Edith and Kris; and granddaughter Buffy Krupknick.

DUGGER FUNERAL HOME, DOWS, IOWA
http://www.duggerfunerals.com/CurrentServices.html