Richard M. Conklin Jr.

Obituary of Richard M. Conklin, Jr.
Richard M. Conklin, Jr., 61, of Jackson Township passed away after a long hard fight on Friday, October 17, 2025 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Newark to the late, Richard Sr. and Barbara Conklin, Rich was raised, the oldest of three brothers, in Old Bridge. Growing up, he excelled at math and wood shop and received awards for his perfect attendance. Some would say he was the perfect student, however, the boredom of finishing all assignments and tests before the rest of the class would always get the best of him. He graduated from East Brunswick Vocational High School in 1982 having missed the single infamous day he took his senior year to go hunting.
Rich's work ethic started working after school at the Englishtown Auction. After graduation, he joined the Navy Reserves, worked construction and earned his CDL. He worked along-side his father for the Pennsylvania Truck Line in Kearney. After years of side jobs, loyal employment and layoffs he was hired and worked 20 plus years at Shaw Industries. His career as a truck driver also included an award-worthy driving record and perfect attendance.
He moved to Jackson in 1988 with his then wife, Kim to raise their young and growing family. Ultimately, the marriage would end but his dedication to his family, which now included four daughters, did not. In 2003, Rich met the woman who would be his wife, JoAnn and her two daughters. In 2009 they were married, bought the house they would make a home, and began the rest of their what should have been much longer, life together. Life with so many women was never easy, but together they all put the FUN in dysfunction with never ending sarcasm, dark humor and a type of love that only the most seasoned ball busters could recognize and appreciate.
P.O. Conklin proudly served his country for over twenty-five years as a Sea Bee Reservist in the United States Navy. His time of service entailed rebuild and rescue missions following domestic natural disasters, as well as overseas, wartime destruction. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom deployed in both Kuwait and Iraq. It was without hesitation that his retirement was put on hold for that second tour. It was also during that time that he overheard talks about a dunk tank that was being shipped around to different units for various on-base festivals and events. Word was it was well made and a favorite attraction among many other servicemen and women. P.O. Conklin built that dunk tank for the Strawberry Festival years prior in Kuwait. Rich was a member of the V.F.W., Post 4703, Jackson and the American Legion, Post 504, Jackson and was a regular face in the community selling poppies for Memorial Day.
Not without struggles, Rich lived a full life worth talking about. He enjoyed going to plays and vacationing with his wife. He bonded with his daughters over movies, concerts and backyard BBQs and was most at peace hunting or fishing alongside his life long friends and family. The last 10 years may have been a battle fighting off a somewhat unclear illness, however, it was also filled with love and some of his greatest memories. He welcomed sons-in-law into his family and was gifted with seven grandchildren elevating him to Grumpy status. Whether you loved, hated, or loved to hate him, it was undeniable that under his rough edges he was a great man and will be missed by all who knew him. He was a loving husband, dad, grumpy, son, brother, and friend.
Richard was predeceased by his parents, "Big Rich" Sr. (2010) and Barbara Conklin (2024). He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Conklin; six daughters, Lacy Conklin and her husband, Dan McCawley, Megan Conklin, Olivia Hilliard and her husband, Charles, Jr., Taylor Conklin, Theresa Marsala and her husband, Vincent, and Casey Carbonello and her husband, Robert, Jr.; seven grandchildren, Nolan, Maeve, Trey, Tony, Richie, Bristol, and Carmela; two brothers, David Conklin and Albert Conklin; many nieces and nephews; and his closest and dearest friends - his hunting buddies.
A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township on Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM for the procession to his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Interment will follow in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle NJ Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Arneytown. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to either The Wounded Warriors Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, HERE or The Tunnel To Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, HERE. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.