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Conrad Masalkoski

March 10, 1937 - February 1, 2020
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Friday, February 7, 2020
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263

Rosary will be prayed beginning at 7:30 PM.

Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, February 8, 2020
11:00 AM EST
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-6369
Map
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Humane Society of West Michigan
3077 Wilson Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
(616) 453-8900
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Conrad was a true family man who enjoyed every moment with his family and friends. He made it easy to love him. With his gentle demeanor and his sweet nature, he leaves behind memories we will forever cherish. We will hold the times we shared with Conrad close to our hearts, and we will never forget him.

Conrad began his life during the exciting decade of the 1930's. In his birth year of 1937, Americans marveled at the abilities of airplane pilots; Howard Hughes broke the transcontinental flight speed when he traveled from Los Angeles to Newark in under seven and a half hours! Though he was breaking records, another respectable pilot by the name of Amelia Earhart completely disappeared while in flight - a trace never to be discovered of her or her plane. San Francisco celebrated the completion of the Golden Gate suspension bridge, and in Chicago, the very first blood bank opened - revolutionizing medicine. As if all of this was not exciting enough, Leon and Lottie (Jedrzejzak) Masalkowski were announcing the news of their sweet baby boy's birth. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Conrad was born on March 10.

Conrad's childhood was never dull, as he shared many adventures with his three sisters and two brothers. Not to mention that he grew up on a farm, so there was always something around the home to entertain the children. They were a close family, and the strength of their relationships lasted throughout Conrad's life.

As he matured, he attended Grand Rapids Catholic High School. In the halls of this school building, love and fate were heavy influencers on his future. The love of his life, Corrine Green, was Conrad's classmate. He would often reminisce about seeing her for the first time - and realizing, at once, she was the woman he would marry.

But before their love story could commence, Conrad had other duties to attend. He proudly served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was a Gunner's Mate and worked aboard the USS Muliphen. Upon his return to civilian life, Conrad set his sights on finding a clear direction in life with Corrine.

The happy couple celebrated his return and began planning a wedding. They exchanged vows on May 28, 1960, inside St. James Catholic Church. Their union stood the test of time - lasting 60 years and bringing with it a lifetime of treasured moments.

They captured three of the most memorable of those treasured moments when they celebrated the birth of their three children; Monica, Alecia, and Brian made Conrad a father. He naturally took to fatherhood partly due to the fact he was a kid at heart himself. He was the dad unafraid to get down on the floor to play with the kids, always ready to have fun with them. As they matured, he was highly interested and involved in their lives. It helped that he was so easy going, as they knew he would always support them in their desired endeavors.

The same strong family foundation Conrad knew as a child became his children's reality as well. Nearly every week, the Masalkoski family would gather with grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins to visit and enjoy the company of one another. In addition to good family times, Conrad shared a passion for Karate with his children. He encouraged his kids in the sport, but he also served as a role model achieving a 4th-degree black belt. Ironically, he earned a higher belt than any of his three kids! Nonetheless, the family enjoyed traveling to various competitions, cheering one another on all the way.

When the Michigan weather allowed, the family also enjoyed many Saturday's at the local Lake Michigan Beach. On the sometimes dreary days or when darkness set in, Conrad loved a good scare, and a horror movie always served as one of his favorite activities to share with others. He was even known to wake the kids up when they were home if there was a good one on the TV schedule. His ability to remember lines from various movies was notable, as he had a fantastic memory.

Though Conrad did enjoy every moment with his family and friends, he also found time to support them financially. Early on in his adulthood, he served with the Grand Rapids Police Department. In time, he decided he wanted a different career path, which led him to pursue a line of work as an insurance adjuster for the Ohio Casualty Insurance Company. This career move lasted him until he officially retired.

As his fatherly duties began to slow down as a result of his children maturing, Conrad found many activities to keep him busy. For many years, he whipped up some great meals in the family kitchen. Everything he made was delicious, but his Thanksgiving meal was epic!

In his retirement, Conrad was able to enjoy a few special trips, visiting Tahiti and China. Both of these trips proved to be rich experiences from which he tucked away many special memories. However, Conrad was happy wherever he was, as he was full of fun, enjoyed laughter, and had a knack for seeking out joy in everyday life.

In time, some of the most special moments of joy found their way into Conrad's heart when he officially became "Gramps." He adored being a grandfather and said that spending time with his grandchildren was the most fun he had ever had. Ryder, Caprice, and Coco were always on their grandfather's mind, even if the miles kept them apart. He always made it a point to stay in touch with his children, grandchildren, and siblings. Sometimes, since he was so handy, he would hear from them to get his help with making even the smallest repairs in their own homes.

Within the last several years, life became a bit more challenging for Conrad. He began to need additional assistance from family and friends. Sadly, after 82 years of a full life, Conrad passed away on February 1, 2020, in South Lyon, Michigan. We will miss his good soul, but we can find comfort knowing he is now at peace.

Conrad P. Masalkoski, age 82, of North Muskegon, passed away February 1, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Corrine; their children Monica Masalkoski, Alecia Gerosa, and Brian Masalkoski; grandchildren Ryder, Caprice and Coco; brothers and sisters Ruth Levanduski, Roger Massel, Marty and Bobbie Masalkoski, Nancy and Rick Brennan; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Camille Hillman. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at 11 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends are invited to visit with Conrad's family on Friday from 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where the Rosary will be prayed beginning at 7:30 PM. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Humane Society of West Michigan are appreciated. To read more about Conrad, to share a memory or to sign his guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com

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