Virginia Conrad

Virginia Ruth (Wheeler) Conrad, 105, Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2025, at The House at Midland Care, Topeka, in the presence of family members. Virginia was born on February 26,1920, in Alden, Iowa. Her parents were Leonard and Meta Wheeler. Virginia and her younger brother, Dr. Richard Wheeler, grew up on a small, eighty-acre farm in North Central Iowa. It lacked modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing and electricity. Cooking was done on a wood stove, and their ice box used real ice. The fields were plowed using a pair of horses. To get to school, Virginia and her brother would walk to school which included crossing the Iowa River via a rope bridge. She graduated from Ellsworth Teachers College and taught in a one room schoolhouse. Later, Virginia attended and graduated from the University of Iowa. After reading an ad in the local paper for secretarial jobs in Chicago, she and some friends took the Greyhound bus to the big city in Illinois. While working as a secretary at Vogue-Wright Studios, a new employee just returning from World War II caught her fancy. They were in the company bowling league together, and the young man asked if she’d like to spend a Sunday afternoon with him at the Brookfield Zoo. He took her to meet his mother the same day, and marriage followed rather quickly, as did three sons neatly spaced four years apart. The family moved from a small apartment near Wrigley Field to the north side suburb of Morton Grove where they lived for over fifty years. Virginia sang in the choir at Morton Grove Community Church, and did a lot of volunteer work, most notably Erie House in Chicago. Virginia and “Jack” moved to Aldersgate Village in Topeka in 2006 where she has lived until her passing. Virginia is survived by sons, Jon of Newark, Delaware, Jeff (Deborah Ackman-Conrad) of Berryton, Kansas, and Richard (Kristi Lea) of Austin, Texas; grandsons, Joel (Kerry) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Erik and Kristopher of Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren, Cameron, Azalia, John, Tirzah, and Nicholas of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and brother, Richard Wheeler of Des Moines, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband Jon, and great-granddaughter, Joella. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Wesley Hall, in the main Aldersgate Village Building, 7220 SW Asbury Drive, Topeka KS 66614, with the visitation being one-hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Drive, Topeka KS 66614, and Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka KS 66606. Condolences may be sent online at www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.

Virginia Conrad

February 26, 1920 - May 29, 2025