The son of Herman Koerstein (1845-1884) and Amelia Furstenau (?-1878).
In addition to the children linked here Max and Cecelia were the parents another daughter.
Victress Irene Conrad (1899-1990), she married John Edward Chamberlain (1893-1945) on Sept. 24, 1918 in Winona Co. MN, they divorced and she married second Edward C. Meagher on June 15, 1925 in St. Louis Co., MN; she married third Dr. Charles Duane Miller (1896-1968). They are enumerated in the 1930 and 1940 census in Glendale, California. John and Victress were the parents of a daughter, Maxine Elizabeth, born April 8, 1920 in Winona, Minnesota.
Winona Republican Herald, Thursday, April 23, 1936
Max A. Conrad, Sr. founder and president of the Conrad Fur Company, Inc., and resident of Winona since 1897, died at his home here at 12:30 a.m. today after an illness of nearly a year. He was 63 years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad returned in February after spending nine months on the West coast, most of the time with their daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. C. Duane Miller and their family at Glendale, Calif. Shortly after their return he was taken to the Winona General hospital and was taken home from there on March 20.
His condition gradually weakened until his death early today. Mrs. Conrad and all of his children were at the bedside when he passed away.
Mr. Conrad was active in civic and business affairs of the city for many years and served as secretary of the John A. Latsch Public Bath board from May, 1916, until June of 1934 during which time he was instrumental in the development and maintenance of the municipal bathing beach on Latsch island.
Although taking an active interest in civic affairs and devoting a great deal of time to the bathing beach, Mr. Conrad's primary interest and devotion to his family, with whose members he had spent much of his time, especially in the later years of his life, and to his employes (sic), many of whom have a long record of employment with the company.
He also was interested in sports events and was president of the old Winona Baseball club when it was a member of the Northern league.
He was born in Bromberg, Germany, September 29, 1872, as Max Koerstein and came to the United States to join his father who had preceded him here, when he was six years old. His sixth birthday was observed on board ship. His mother died when he was three years old.
Mr. Conrad came directly to Chicago to join his father, who died six months later, leaving him an orphan. He then went to Naperville, Ill., where he was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Adam Conrad and where he grew to manhood and attended Northwestern Business college. From Naperville he went to Chicago where he obtained employment with Charles Glanz, Chicago furrier.
Mr. Conrad held positions of bookkeeper and then as salesman and new fur buyer for Mr. Glanz and after he had worked for him nine years came to Winona as the Chicagoan's representative in 1897.
In that year a small fur store was operated by E. O. Reitmann on Center street where the F. W. Reeve Company, Inc., now is located. Mr. Glanz sent Mr. Conrad here to represent his interest in the establishment after it encountered financial difficulties.
Mr. Conrad was persuaded to take over the business and locate in Winona. He operated the business as the Winona Fur & Glove factory for many years and later as the Conrad Fur Company, remaining in that location for 20 years.
In 1917 the company moved to its present location at 108 West Third street and on May 2, 1927, incorporated as the Conrad Fur Company, Inc. Under Mr. Conrad's guidance the company grew steadily until today it operates retail stores in Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, Winona in Minnesota and Eau Claire, Superior and La Crosse in Wisconsin. Headquarters and the manufacturing unit of the business are located here.
He married Miss Elizabeth Baier of Rochester June 7, 1898.
He was a member of St. Thomas church, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Winona Country club and a former member of the Arlington club.
Surviving are his wife; three daughters, Mrs. Miller (Victress) of Glendale, Calif., Mrs. John Holdorf (Dolores) of Eau Claire and Mrs. Arnold Jarvis (Elizabeth) of Winona; two sons, Max A. Conrad, Jr., and Karl F. Conrad, secretary-treasurer of the fur company, both of Winona; 18 grandchildren and two brothers, Theodore Koerstein of Chicago and Charles Kersten of Rochester. Two sons preceded him in death, Donald in 1915 at the age of three and Arthur in 1931 at the age of 25.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Cathedral with the Rev. D. D. O'Day officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's cemetery. Preliminary services will be held at the home at 8:30 a.m.
Pallbearers, all department heads of the Conrad Company here and in other cities, will be Thomas F. Flynn, Duluth; William H. Hall, Superior; Henry C. Chapman, Mankato; Ernest Stelzer, Eau Claire; J. Bernard Berktold, and Fritz Kesserling, Winona.
All of the Conrad stores were closed today and will remain closed until noon Saturday in respect to Mr. Conrad's memory.
