Conrad B. Kirmis

Conrad Brand Kirmis, 76, Bismarck, died October 27, 2011, at Medcenter One Hosptial, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 31, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Tim Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm Sunday, October 30, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where family will be receiving visitors from 2-4pm. Conrad “Con” Brand was born February 14, 1935, to Conrad Henry and Laura (Brand) Kirmis, of Jud, ND. Con attended grade school and high school in Jud and graduated in 1953, as one of eight graduates. In high school he was active in basketball, track and band. Jud’s basketball team went to the state class c one year. After high school, Con attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, from which he graduated with a BA in Economics in 1957. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Con returned to North Dakota, moved to Bismarck, began his career, and served in the ND State National Guard. It was at the old American Legion Club where he met Genevieve “Gen” Entzel. Gen and Con were married in August 1960 and eventually had two sons, Conrad E. and Carlan M. Con’s career was in the insurance business in which he worked for over 40 years. He qualified for the National Quality Award for 25 years and was Life Underwriter of the year in 1985. He worked for a number of insurance companies that either later left the state, or were purchased by other corporations including American Life & Casualty of Fargo, Provident Life of Bismarck, and Pioneer Mutual based in Fargo. During his work years, Con qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table, and was active in the Missouri Slope Chapter of Life Underwriters, where he served in many positions including president. He was also a member of the ND Life Underwriter, which he represented as a delegate to the National Convention. Con was a member of the Elks Club, Kiwanis, and an active member of the Lutheran Church. On the personal side, Con immensely enjoyed working outside in his yard, spending time with relatives and friends, keeping up with his favorite TV programs, and reading history and war literature. He loved personal conversation and having spirited dialogue with friends and family. The family enjoyed boating, cross country skiing, and traveling. He and his wife took numerous trips for insurance purposes and enjoyed traveling throughout the US and Europe. Con is survived by his wife, Gen Kirmis, Bismarck; his son, Conrad E. (Linda), of Brookfield, WI, and Carlan M. of Eden Prairie, MN; and his granddaughters, Sara and Christina. Memorials may be made to Elks Camp Grassick, PO Box F, Dawson, ND 58428.