Conrad VanderLinden

Conrad VanderLinden, age 60, passsed away Wednesday, December 5th , 2012 in the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley. Conrad G. VanderLinden was born December 26, 1951 in Ada, MN, the son of Clifford and Bernice (Schroeder) VanderLinden. He began elementary in Twin Valley, but soon after the family moved to Gary, MN. He continued his schooling in Gary as a “Bulldog” and graduated with the class of 1970. In 1971, Conrad was drafted into the United States Army. He actively served for two years followed by four years of reserve duty concluding with an honorable discharge in January of 1977. While on reserve duty, he worked in the Twin Cities area for a time before returning to the Twin Valley/Gary area to make his home. In 1974, Conrad met the love of his life, Lori Grivno. The couple would be united in marriage at St. John’s Lutheran Church on June 18, 1977. In 1980, they moved to the country, built a house and began their family. They were blessed with two children, a daughter, Carrie, in 1981 followed by a son, Jacob, in 1982. Conrad was a multi-skilled man in so many areas, including roofing, logging, and just being an all-around handy man. He was considered a “Jack of all trades and Master of none”. Conrad and Lori started their own business called C & L Tree Service. He also had a love for large equipment, which included driving semi for different companies. Conrad was employed by the Norman County Highway Department where he drove the “Caterpillar Maintenance Road Grader”, a job he just loved! Conrad believed the best place to be was outside with nature. He truly was an outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, trapping, cutting wood and doing all the fun country things with his grandchildren like riding the 4-wheeler and teaching them about different wild life. He collected guns and even became an avid gunsmith. Conrad was a member of the North American Hunting Club and Zion Lutheran Church in Ada. He also enjoyed playing cards, rolling dice, working word find puzzles and being a “junk collector”. Overall, the single most important part of his life was spending time with his family, especially the true joys of his life, his grandchildren. Conrad is survived by his wife, Lori, of Ada; a daughter, Carrie (Nathan) Dobmeyer of Twin Valley; a son, Jacob of Ada; six grandchildren: Dawson, Aubrey, Bailey, Ian, Caleb and Keegan; his mother, Bernice VanderLinden of Ada; five brothers: Clifford, Jr. “Lindy” of Rexburg, ID, Clayton “Larry” (Laurie) of Glen Ullin, ND, Claire “Sonny” of Ada, Curtis (Connie) of Elk River, MN, and Craig “Bub” (Lana) of Ada; one sister, Carole “Sue” (Douglas) Munson of Gary; his mother-in-law, Verna Grivno of Ada; three brothers-in-law: Gerry (Debra) Grivno of Ada, Craig (Barbara) Grivno of Ada, and Scott (Laurie) Grivno of Harwood, ND; three sisters-in-law: Julie (Daniel) Bjorklund of Hillsboro, ND, Patricia (John) Sargent of Fargo, ND, and Kristi (Wayne) Wilkens of Ada; several nieces, nephews and aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford, and his father-in-law, LeRoy Grivno. Memorial Services were held on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM in Zion Lutheran Church, Ada. A Time of Gathering was held on Sunday, December 9th from 3-5 PM with a Prayer Service at 4 PM at the church. Officiating was Pastor Jonathan Holms with Kris Wilkens serving as organist and Mark and Rhoda Habedank serving as vocalists. Urnbearers were Nicholas Bauman, Brady Coffield, Allen Haaland, Dave Underdahl, Don Huckins and Jody Munson. Honorary Urnbearers were his grandchildren, Dawson Thompson, Aubrey Dobmeyer, Bailey VanderLinden, Ian Dobmeyer, Caleb VanderLinden and Keegan Dobmeyer. Military honors were provided by the Ada Veterans Honor Guard and the MN Army National Guard Honor Guard. Inurnment was in the Twin Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Conrad VanderLinden

December 26, 1951 - December 5, 2012