Conrad Joseph Rheal Paul Tremblay, 88

Born Nov. 4, 1922, to Polycarpe Paul Tremblay and Marie Louise (Morin) Tremblay in Salem, Mass.

"Connie" as he preferred to be known, attended Catholic parochial school but did not graduate. He later secured his GED from North Idaho (Junior) College in 1975. He entered military service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as base photographer at Fort George Wright in Spokane. There he met and, on July 2, 1944, married Mildred E. Anderson, CHS Valedictorian Class of 1943.

Moving to Coeur d'Alene after the war, Conrad opened Fine Art Studio, continuing the enterprise at least as a sideline through several other terms of employment which included working as a photographer for the Coeur d'Alene Press in the late '50s and early '60s. Concurrently the couple provided a photo-finishing service around the Coeur d'Alene area until color processing superseded the popularity of black-and-white photography. Even into the late '90s, Conrad produced Large-format black-and-white enlargements for the Museum of North Idaho. Numerous local businesses still adorn their walls with examples of these works.

Connie and Millie were active in Aerie 486, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Coeur d'Alene Camera Club, Cd'A Art Club, as well as community theater. He participated in numerous productions both as an actor and set designer/prop builder. One notable example was a fireplace that resembled local granite fieldstone constructed from newsprint-derived papier-mâché. He even scored a minor walk-through in one of Patty Duke's locally produced television programs.

Conrad is survived at home by Mildred, his wife of 66 years; one sister, Yvette Plummer of Porsmouth, N.H.; sons Paul L. Tremblay of Idaho Falls and Charles D. Tremblay of Post Falls; a daughter, Marie S. Wutzke of Olympia, Wash.; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two of the next generation.

Cremation has been arranged through English Funeral Chapel. A memorial service is planned for sometime in late spring.