Joseph Martin Conrad, age 65, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2017, at his home in Knoxville, MD. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Janet, to whom he was married for 43 years.
Joe was born on June 30, 1952, in Washington, DC, to Georgia Nenstiel, who preceded him in death. His father, James Nenstiel, still resides in Ocean City, MD. Joe began his long career in public safety at Wheaton Rescue Squad, moving on to become one of the first four paramedics hired in Montgomery County, MD. Joe retired as a Captain after over thirty years of service.
Joe spent many summers in Ocean City with his family, and was often found on his boat, Bojak. He enjoyed sharing this time with his family, and especially showing them how to catch an entire meal from the bay with a single piece of bread. He was always quick to tell a joke whenever he met someone new, or even when he passed a stranger in a store. Above all else, Joe's legacy will be that of a loving husband, father, teacher, provider and protector.
Also surviving is daughter Jacki Grubb and her husband Rick of Keedysville, MD, daughter Karyn Houck and her husband Jarrett of Brunswick, MD, son Tim Conrad of Frederick, MD, and daughter Chrissy Super and her husband Alex of Fairplay, MD. He will be fondly remembered as Pop to his grandchildren Josh and Caroline Grubb and Ethan Houck.
A private gathering will be held by the family at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Ave, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Antonio Magri
Joe:
I will need to see the 1969 Northwood Yearbook
to see you. Please rest in peace and condolences to Janet and your whole family.
Tony Magri NHS Class of 1970
Sheri Morris (Weisgerber)
Rest in peace Joe. You will be missed.
Deborah Jackson (Zalesak)
This is what I wrote on facebook when I found out about Joe's passing:
I am deeply saddened by this news.
Joe aka Skeeter was my very first friend. We met almost sixty years ago, the summer of 1958 when his parents bought a new house on Branch Drive built by my great grandfather, Henry Bieber. We became inseparable in those early elementary school years. I got a twenty inch bike for Christmas 1958 and Joe accompanied me to Rex Yenzer’s Esso to teach me how to pump air into the tires. He also shared some of his baseball cards to clothespin onto the spokes of my wheels. We rode all over Woodmoor proudly clicking. Lord only knows how many miles we put on our bikes and tennis shoes riding and walking to and from the Four Corners Shopping Center and around the neighborhood.
When we had the same teachers for second and third grades, we often ate at each other’s houses for lunch, and the menu was always the same: soup and sandwich. When it was grilled cheese and tomato soup, Joe had a special technique for biting down just so, so he could stretch the melted cheese. He also liked to get rid of the broth first and eat the noodles of chicken noodle soup last. No crunchy peanut butter? No problem: just add potato chips to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We even studied together. I remember one spelling test in second grade when the words, pitcher and picture were included. Where was that memory hiding, I wonder?
Another second grade memory was of Joe’s first communion. He took it very seriously and even took me to St. Bernadette’s to show me the sanctuary and teach me to genuflect as I was invited to attend. I never knew Joe to do anything naughty. (Snowball fights do not count.) In fact, he and I were captains of the patrols in sixth grade and were chosen to attend Patrol Camp. I held the position for the first semester and he held it for the second. That meant our mothers were the hot chocolate committee: responsible for organizing the other patrol parents for the serving of hot chocolate to the patrols when the temperature was below freezing.
Joe’s parents were so hospitable to me too. They took me with them to my first circus experience which was where the “trails” were and where the new Montgomery Blair High School is now. I also have memories of his grandmother’s house where we played with reusable syringes that she had because she was a retired nurse. We filled them with water and squirted it through the porch screen. His parents finished their basement and I have memories of watching Joe and his band rehearse down there. Those were the days!
At our 30th reunion, I got contact information for the Nenstiels and visited his parents in Ocean City the fall of 2000. They had on display in their house a lovely picture of Joe kissing one of his daughters on her wedding day.
The last time I saw Joe was at The Corner Pub the night before the Class of 1970 40th reunion. In fact my profile picture was taken there that night and I confess, I have aged in the seven years since. Joe talked a lot about his job as an EMT and how stressful it was. I think he may have had a case of PTSD. I was so looking forward to seeing him at our next reunion and catching up, hoping that he had resolved his issues.
Janet, you have lost a great man. May God help you and your family to cope with such a loss. Joe, I have only the fondest loving memories of you and will have to wait for the Great Reunion to catch up. Rest in peace, my old friend.
Oren Kaplan
On the eve of our 50 year reunion; fond memories of the way we knew you: