Fr. Simon Conrad, senior friar of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, died Dec. 6 at Via Christi in Hays, Kan., ending several years of constant pain.

Though retired from active ministry since 2011, Fr. Simon is widely remembered as a teacher, communicator and confessor. And until the end, he was best known as a consummate gentleman and professional.

Born to Frank and Grace (McCrea) Conrad of Butler on Feb. 11, 1921, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Fidelis Seminary in nearby Herman in 1933, and entered the Capuchin-Franciscan novitiate at Cumberland, Md., in 1939.

After professing religious vows the following year, he studied philosophy for two years at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kan., and theology for four years at Capuchin College in Washington. He was ordained a priest in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, on Feb. 9, 1946.

Following a year of studies at the Catholic University of America, he earned a B.A. in library science and began nine years of teaching English and library science at the Herman seminary. In 1956, Father was sent to Victoria, Kan., as a local superior of the friary and spiritual director, teacher and librarian of St. Francis Seminary. From 1962 to 1965, he was director of the seminary, and he then served another three years as development director for the school.

Father next served as Capuchin provincial director of communications in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 1974; and after a year of continuing theological education at St. Louis University, he joined the staff of the national Franciscan Communication Center in Los Angeles and served as the associate editor of “Good News,” a national preaching and worship service for some 7,000 clergy in the U.S. and elsewhere.

In 1980, he returned to St. Louis and served two years on the parish staff of St. Patrick's parish and then nine years as chaplain at the Alverne Chapel. When the chapel closed in 1991, he and another friar began 17 years of weekday sacramental ministry at nearby St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church. From 1982 to 2008, he also performed weekend ministry at Maryville Gardens.

When the Capuchins ended their ministry in St. Louis in 2008, Father returned to Victoria and engaged sacramental ministry for another three years.

Through all of his years of ministry, Father was known for his well-crafted and thoughtful preaching. On two occasions, his audience was a national one. In 1954, he and fellow Capuchin Fr. Bertin Roll conducted the nation's first televised youth mission, which was broadcast live for eight weeks on CBS network television's “Look Up and Live.” In 1958, he also preached on CBS network radio's “Church of the Air.”

Father wrote two books: “Master and Model,” a life of Christ, and “Brothers of the Sun,” a brief history of the Capuchins, which had press runs totaling 40,000.

Commenting on the variety of his ministries, Father said on the occasion of his 60th anniversary as a priest in 2006, “If variety is the spice of life, my life has been well seasoned.”

Father is preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Grace Mahood; and brothers, Frank and William.

CONRAD — The funeral Mass for Fr. Simon Conrad, who died Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, already was celebrated at St. Fidelis Church, Victoria, Kan. Interment was in the Capuchin friar's plot in St. Fidelis Ceremony.Memorial donations may be made to the Capuchin Province of Mid-America Inc., 3613 Wyandot St., Denver, CO 80211.