Conrad Howard Bittner III

Conrad Howard Bittner, III went to be with the Lord on July 19th, 2016. Conrad was a loving husband to Judith (Bignall) Bittner and a devoted father to three daughters, Deborah (Greg) Mahan of New Braunfels, TX. Tracy (Kim) Jones of Merrimac, WI., and Samantha (Daniel) Stayer of New Braunfels, TX.

Conrad “Coonie” was born on October 27th, 1932 in Saulte Ste. Marie, MI. The family moved many places during his early years during the Depression, but he grew up primarily in the Rockford and Freeport, Illinois area. He attended and graduated from Freeport High School where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Judi. At Freeport High School he played football passionately and was honored as All State-Big Eight. He received a full football scholarship to Arizona State University, but chose to enlist in the Navy and serve our country. Coonie and Judi were married on January 17, 1953 in Melton, Florida, where he was stationed in the Navy. They were married for 63 years. Conrad returned to Freeport where he was manager and head electrical estimator at Morse Electric for many years. He went on to start his own electrical business and became co-owner of Freeport Electric, Highland Electric, and finally Valley Electric in Harlingen, Texas. Coonie and Judi resided in Harlingen for 12 years until he retired in 2004 and returned to Freeport.

Conrad was a cowboy at heart. He loved country music and square dancing, but most of all he loved to watch his daughters showing the family Quarter horses on the Quarter Horse Show Circuits around the country. Conrad and Judi made many friends along the way.

Conrad will be dearly missed by his family including his four grandchildren, R.C. Jones, Shaun (Tanya) Jones, Tyler Mahan and Hope Stayer and 2 great-grandchildren, Keira Maxham-Jones and Kayden Maxham-Jones.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made on Conrad’s behalf to: All Veterans Memorial Park, PO Box 804, Freeport, IL 61032 and please place Conrad’s name in the memo. Condolences to the family may be left online by visiting www.zoellerfuneralhm.com, where you are invited to sign the online guestbook.