Conrad Emery Feero

Conrad “Emery” Feero had a fire in his soul and grace in his heart… fire for his faith and his family which burned brightly for 94 years. He was a man of deep religious beliefs, passion for his wife, Elaine, and devotion to his family.

Emery found great joy in the time spent with his siblings milking cows, establishing life-long memories and developing a never-ending love for family and the woods. He graduated, with distinction, in 1945 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Forest Management.

Emery served as a proud American in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Bunker Hill and throughout his life quietly spoke of the shared emotion they all felt as they made return trips from Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Guam and Saipan as the Golden Gate Bridge came in sight … though he always made certain to include his wartime accomplishment as Finger Pulling Champion!

Residing some 40 years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Emery found expression in the beauty of the woods that surrounded his early life experiences and he cultivated great skill woodworking; building everything from bookshelves to homes and a career as a forester and later as Land Manager for Mead Paper Company.

Loving Elaine, his wife, was his greatest joy in life and together they traveled often and extensively and raised their three children in a faith-filled and loving home. Daughters Cheri and Gwen and son Scott recount being carried to bed at night and praying together before they went to sleep and waking up with a rousing toe wiggling by their dad! Emery taught them what devotion looked like in practical ways. A breakfast of Swedish pancakes were his specialty and he often drove them to activities and taught them that the most important decision in life was to follow Jesus. He was known as a man of few words and he used them to impart his love and devotion… to his wife Elaine who heard daily that he “Loved her very much” and to his children who were admonished to “Be good to your mother!” For him, and them, those few words said it all.

He cherished his parents and the siblings that provided his lifelong memories of life on the farm and richness of family. Farm life taught him to love the experiences that food brought and he was never known to pass on a meal! Ice cream and popcorn made football even better and meals always required dessert! Nothing could be sweeter…

This kind and patient man was known to have a true spark of Norwegian stubbornness which was demonstrated by his strong sense of family, love of nature and a desire to help those in need. Emery prayed and read his bible every morning and always found time to share his faith and values beyond his deeply rooted family by volunteering with the Gideon’s for 40 years, teaching Sunday school and giving of his time at the Thrift Store - well into his 80’s.

Emery was born August 14, 1927 and passed away on January 3, 2022. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Dina Feero; brothers Lee and Robert; sisters Irene, Donna and Mariette; brothers-in-law Frank Duncan, Ed Viren and Larry Siefert; and sister-in-law Marie Feero. He is survived by his wife Elaine; daughters Cheri (Ted) O’Brien and Gwen (Mike) Kapcia; son Scott (Patti) Feero; eight grandchildren Justin (Kristin) Smith, Marissa Smith, Bethany (Dan) Swartz, Lindsay Feero, Nick Feero, Travis (Allison) Kapcia, Megan (Joey) Hamilton and Rachel Kapcia; seven great-grandchildren Kate, Jake and Luke Smith, Elin and Emery Shelver, Charlie and Auden Swartz and sister-in-law Marilyn Feero… all of whom declare “You loved us well”!

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Friday, January 14, at 11 am at New Hope Church, 4225 Gettysburg Ave N, New Hope, MN. Contributions may be made in memory of Emery to The Gideons International, sendtheword.org or New Hope Church, 4225 Gettysburg Ave. N, New Hope, MN 55428 or the charity of one’s choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kapalaglodekmalone.com for the Feero family.