Cass J. Conrad

Cass John Conrad, age 84 a resident of Warren since 1959, died Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township Michigan. Cass was born September 17, 1925 in Beckley, West Virginia the son of the late John Korzeniowski and the late Julia (nee: Kress) Korzeniowski. Cass was raised in Detroit and graduated from Pershing High School. After his schooling Cass served in the Navy during World War II as the ships storekeeper aboard the USS Raymond #341, which was a destroyer escort that won the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval engagement of World War II, made up of two small and three large separate engagements over four days in October 1944. It resulted in a devastating defeat of the Japanese Navy including the loss of four of their carriers. The battle included the first use of suicidal "kamikazes" by the increasingly desperate Japanese. Following his return after his heroic wartime service, Cass went to work in the banking industry first working for Detroit Bank & Trust, then Liberty State Bank, and finally the Bank of Commerce. Cass always wanted to be his own boss so he struck out on his own, opening Conrad & Company a commercial real estate brokerage. Cass never stopped working and until his death still had a property listed. Cass seemed to work all the time to provide for his family, however leisure time was spent with his family or traveling the country in his RV motor home. He and his wife also traveled to many of the Navy Veteran events and memorials. He will be remembered as a hero and great man from the greatest generations of all time. Cass is survived by his beloved wife Lorraine, and his dear children; George (Donna) Conrad, Susan (Richard) Romain, James (Deborah) Conrad, and Barbara (Peter) Korte. He is the brother of Gertrude Bodnar, and also survived by his grandchildren Stacy (Scott) Ritchie, Steven (Sara) Splan, Jill (Donald) Burgess, Robert (Deborah) Romain, Katherine Conrad, Thomas Conrad, and Julia Korte. Great-grandchildren Ian, Hailey, Makenna, Megan, Emily, Elizabeth, Emma, Claire, Lauren, Nolan, Madelyn, and Griffin. Cass was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, the late Thaddeus Korzeniowski, Jimmy Korzeniowski, and Edward Conrad. Visitation for Mr. Conrad will be Sunday from 3-9 pm with a 6 pm Scripture service at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 Mile). Mr. Conrad will lie in state Monday 10 am at St. Sylvester Catholic Church until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am. Memorial donations appreciated to donors choice. Please share memories of Cass at his guest book.