The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Warmth of Friends

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

June 8, 2016

The warmth of friends can appear on the chilliest of days, and see you through.

Such was it this past weekend as friends and neighbors from Illinois' Heartland, joined with family and friends of the Northwoods for a time of celebration and laying to rest the ashes of a Viet Nam Veteran helicopter pilot, and U.S. Army Warrant Officer David Conard, Jr.

In the winter months, David had made his home on the Bluffs outside Lomax in an A-frame named "the birdhouse". The rest of the year, David would return to the beautiful Lake Burntside, 10 miles from the Canadian border in Ely, MN, the place Conards called home.

David was many things, but through and through he had a deep respect for nature, animals, people, and a strong love for adventure.

With that, he had the unique ability to see things from a different perspective, and always in a favorable light. This ability brought him to start a column in our newspaper called: "Treasures In The Heartland"! Many said, how much they enjoyed his perspective on life and his tribute to people in his column. Many of his columns were shared with the "Ely Echo." and so the connection to both of his homes was made by sharing treasures that are all around us, but too often fail to notice.

David enjoyed when someone would look him straight in the eye and talk to him, a symbol of respect.

As the son of a West Point graduate and the grandson of two West Point graduates, this patriotic helicopter pilot also served his country with honors, so a reverent "Celebration of Life" was accorded. At the cluster of islands and in front of the stone cabin his grandfather had built as a place they could always return to, and call home, no matter where the military sent them, tributes by sister Candace and Lisa were spoken, a 21 gun salute echoed, military taps were played by a bugler under a briskly waving American flag. Then eldest sons, Adam and Joshua, released his ashes into the wind at the edge of Lake Burntside. His youngest son, David, a Staff Sergeant at Fort Bragg, knelt down slowly, and carefully released his ashes into the waters' edge. Only the sounds of wind and water... then, a helicopter flew over hidden in the clouds. It was complete.

Tim and Julie Ryder and David Pittman of Lomax, drove a motorboat from their nearby lodge on Lake Burntside to historic Burntside Lodge dock where Publisher Dessa Rodeffer was waiting. The foursome boated on to the Conard Islands for a moving "Celebration of Life" for their friend David. Artist Jim Spring was also part of the group from Burlington, IA who brought gifts of art.

Lake Burntside awaits at Conard Islands, and inside the window of the stone cabin, David Conard's ashes awaits on the window sill where it was placed, covered by the neatly folded American flag.