Max E. Conard

Max E. Conard, 77, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2024. He was born on January 24, 1947, in Independence, Missouri to the late John Kenneth and Ruth Evelyn (Mayhew) Conard. In addition to his parents, Max is preceded in death by his daughter, Angelique Walker.

Raised in Chillicothe, Ohio, Max graduated from Southwestern High School in 1966. Shortly after starting college at The Ohio State University, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a radio operator in Frankfurt, Germany. It was there that he met and married Pierina Bonazzi in 1969. Together, they settled in Columbus, raising two daughters and forging a lifelong friendship, even after their separation. Inspired by the work he did while in the army, Max became a successful boiler technician, eventually founding his own company, Max’s Boiler Burner & Control, Inc. He dedicated over thirty years to the business, retiring in 2009.

A natural problem-solver with the mind of an engineer, Max had an extraordinary ability to take apart, rebuild, and fix anything. He was careful, meticulous, and took pride in quality work. He generously shared his expertise with family and friends, always ready to assist with home repairs, car maintenance, or financial advice. Max immersed himself in numerous hobbies and he pursued his interests with passion. At various times in his life, he was an avid builder and flyer of model airplanes, a mountain biker, a fisherman, a cook, an artist, an astronomer, a geologist, a rose gardener, and a caretaker of many animals.

Max had a calming and stoic presence. He lived thoughtfully and embraced life’s simple pleasures, especially those found in nature. He enjoyed sitting on the porch to watch the birds and taking long walks, pausing often to watch a caterpillar ascend a tree or observe the flight pattern of birds. Max inspired those around him to slow down, savor their morning coffee, take the scenic route, smell the fresh air, and be curious about life.

Max will be greatly missed by his daughter, Corrinn (Greg) Ekker; former wife, Piera (Bob) Giesken; grandchildren, Mia and Reagan Walker, Elliot and Hattie Ekker; brothers, Dennis (Brenda) and Bruce Conard; sister, Kay (Lynne) Free; niece and nephews, Jeffrey Conard, Hillary (Adolfo) Loustaunau, Tim (Kate) Conard, Matt (Sara) McCormick, and Andrew McCormick; and dear friends, Wes Snow and Vassya Vassileva.

A formal memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Rd, Columbus, OH 43221. An informal, open house reception will follow the service until 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Columbus Park of Roses Foundation, PO Box 09576, Columbus, OH 43209, or at parkofroses.org/support-2.