Jerry Squire Conwell

Jerry was born in Manhattan, KS to Floyd Parker Conwell and June Margueritte (nee West) Conwell. He had an older sister who died in infancy. He grew up on a farm located near Manhattan that dealt with crops and animals.

He attended Kansas State University where he got his degree in agricultural economics. He was a devoted K-State Wildcats fan all his life. He met and married Betty Johnson while at the university. Together they had three sons, Gary Lee, Mark Douglas (Doug), and Steven Kent (Steve).

After graduation, he went into the US Air Force in 1956 as a 2nd lieutenant having gone through ROTC while at K-State. He was trained as a navigator and was stationed at multiple bases in the United States and around the world including Morocco and the United Kingdom.

He and Betty divorced after he left the Air Force and eventually, he went back overseas and worked for an electrical company that had business in England, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Athens, Spain, and Morocco. When he returned to the States, he worked in real estate in Topeka, and later, as a cashier at Harrah’s Casino in Lake Tahoe. In 1976, he moved to the northern Virginia area and joined a patent research venture with two others. He also worked a second job for several years in the accounting department of hotels in Crystal City, VA.

He remained self-employed well into his eighties doing patent research work through his own company called National Patent Search and Research (NPS&R). In addition, he operated a small vending machine enterprise for several years while also doing his patent work.

Jerry met his second wife, Donna, while a member of Blackies Country Western Dance Team in Springfield, VA. They were married in 1998. As time went on, Jerry’s faith in Jesus Christ grew deeper. He was blessed to know Jesus as his Savior. He helped run a Christian program called Alpha multiple times. He also participated in church mission trips to Argentina, China, and Morocco. In addition, he and Donna also ran a weekly Bible study program for gentlemen served by the Central Union Mission in Washington, DC for more than 16 years.

In 2015, Jerry and Donna moved from northern Virginia to live part of the year in Columbia Heights, MN and part in Missouri City, TX (their legal residence). In addition to being able to live closer to Donna’s family in MN and TX, the travel back and forth provided the opportunity to see more of his family in and around Topeka, Kansas.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Donna; his sons, Gary Conwell (and the late Debbie), Doug (Carole) Conwell, and Steve Conwell (JoAnn Caddell); grandchildren, Matthew (Ashley) Conwell, Kelly (Jeff) Dietzler, Kaylee (Ryan) Bisbing, Taylor (Drake) Brungardt, Eric (Kate) Conwell, and Katie (Chad) Coleman; his step-children, Arthur Mills, and Kenna Shaw (Wyatt); step-grandchildren who called him "Bumpa": Brynn, Rowan, Bria, and Lydia; step-grandchildren, Sarah Coulter, Jessica (Cory) Francis, and Justin (Emily) Fitzgerald; 14 great-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; 1 step-great-great-grandchild; and other dear family members and friends.

Jerry will be cremated and his remains will be buried at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, where his parents are buried, near Manhattan, KS. There will not be a traditional funeral, viewing, or memorial service. If you have a fond memory of Jerry, please share it on the memorial page.