Larry Conrad

Larry Joe Conrad, age 75 years, 11 months, and 6 days, passed over from his earthly home to his once again spiritually heavenly home on June 11, 2017. His crossing over was in a most profoundly conscious manner, peacefully, with his beloved wife’s arm around him, holding his hand, on their much lived in Kona couch, with their beautiful daughter also present, holding the sacred space for him to depart. LJ was an avid white water rafting guide for many years on the Arkansas River, so it was no surprise that he would leave this hard working, loved body, in a fully upright, seated position as if he was manning the oars on his river raft, ready to shove off. A truly awesome, precious leaving. LJ was a hot spring business owner the past 31 years and is loved and respected by his members, non-members, and employees alike. His cheerful, kind, compassionate, but no nonsense nature was appreciated by all. His integrity to his word was respected by anyone who knew him. This “Master of the Ease” had a great sense of fun and adventure fully embraced by his beloved river family, friends, belly button family, and acquired family, all the same. LJ was a soul who knew himself well and stayed true to himself throughout his life, whether on the river (any river); building and running his business; traveling on adventures; living in the desert, at the ocean, or in the foothills of the mountains. He was a man who adapted, loved nature and the natural world and lived by a simple rule: “If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it”. I’m sure happy that it felt right to marry me, the love of his life, because he surely was and always will be the love of mine. He touched my life and so many hundreds, if not thousands of lives at the hot spring in ways we could never have anticipated or planned. His only wish…to share the healing and soothing hot waters coming from Mother Earth with anyone who found their way to our little oasis in the high plateau desert. His legacy lives on. You can count on that. Larry Joe Conrad, born in Harrisburg, Illinois during WWII, and raised in Doris Heights with a big wonderful extended family of grandparents, devoted parents, wild and wonderful cousins, nieces, aunts and uncles. He first met his father at age 4, when his Navy dad returned from the Pacific War. He had a happy, interesting and amusing childhood in southern Illinois, full of “cool boy” stories. Larry briefly served his country during the Vietnam Era , in the Army before his unit was inactivated, and he was honorably discharged. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Murray State College – the first in his family with a college education. He went on to work and live in Oklahoma City; Cotopaxi, CO; Penrose, CO; Fremont County, CO; Pahoa, HI; Waianae, HI, Kailua Kona, HI, until his final return to Colorado Springs, CO. Sometime, somewhere along the way, LJ developed a mass in his neck and was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and neck nodes. The cancer eventually spread to his lungs, esophagus and liver. He received treatments on the Big Island of Hawaii, and Colorado Springs, CO, and donated his DNA and cancer cells to the University of Colorado. Despite 2 1/2 years of continued living, working and loving his remarkable life, this beautiful soul was moving on to bigger adventures in the universe of eternal Love. We shall miss his physical presence more than we can possibly express. His wild card in life was meeting (at age 57), loving and marrying (at age 60) his surviving beloved wife, Roselia “Ro”. (What a surprise for both of us!) He is also survived by two adult stepchildren, Maria (Rob) and Matt; and three step granddaughters (Megan, Aspen, Madison); and two bonus step grandsons (Matt & JJ); a cousin Carole (John), who he grew up with; two nieces, Rita (Ed) and Nyla who he also grew up with and their families. He is also survived by his beautiful Bernese Mt Dog, Nani and his wildly wonderful lovebird Puiwa. Larry’s beloved parents, James “Bussie” and Pearl (Trammel) Conrad; a half sister Pearl Mae Ogelsby; and his niece Pam all preceded him in death. Services were held at his beloved hot spring on June 16, 2017 with Army military honor guard, and Eddie Three Eagles, Chaplain, officiating for the ceremony and celebration of life. We are deeply indebted to the loving, dedicated and caring staff of Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care, who were there with us every step of his last earthly journey to ensure his comfort and my support. Please freely make a donation for this amazing work that they did for our Larry Joe, and continue to do for others. He would like nothing more… well, perhaps, in addition, you might find your way to that very special place he created for all you souls looking for peace and gentle care away from your very busy lives. Our deepest appreciation to Brandon at All Veterans Burial and Cremation for the most kindest, and efficient service a grieving wife could ever hope to have. From my grateful heart to yours…me ke aloha. What he would say, if he could…. Larry Joe would want you all to do what is right (for your soul) and have fun doing it. And lastly, from LJ, el capitan, and the love of my life….a hui hou (until we meet again). RSC