Dan Konrath

Joseph “Dan” Konrath

Dan was 90 years old when he was called to the Lord on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Dan was at home with his son when he entered the light.

Dan is survived by his sisters Sharon (Konrath) Disotell, and Sandy (Konrath) Thomas, son Patrick, grandchildren Amanda, Chris, and Andy Fredericks, and Andre’ Konrath, and great granddaughters Vivian and Briar Fredericks, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents Joseph and Frances (Buker), Konrath, sister Norma (Konrath) Willson, and daughter Tracy (Konrath) Fredericks.

Dan was born on 13 January 1935 in Crawford and moved to the ranch on the Isham land north of Chadron in March of 1941. The whole family later moved to Chadron in 1949.

Dan started his schooling in a 1-room schoolhouse, later attended the Academy and graduated in 1953.

He went back to ranching until he volunteered for the draft in 1957. After basic training he attended technical training at Fort Sill and then posted to Germany. He travelled all over Europe, especially to England and Italy. While at Fort Sill, he bought a mandolin for $35 and a camera that he took lots of slides and photos all around Europe and the United States.

In 1959 he went to Colorado Technical Institute and was 3rd of 52 in his class. He later moved to California to work for IBM and then Litton Guidance and Control.

In 1964 he took a field assignment to Newark Air Force Station in Ohio where he met Sylvia Caswell and they married on 23 August 1966. His daughter Tracy was born on 29 May 1967. The small family moved to California in 1968, where Patrick was born. Then he took a 4-month field assignment with Quantas in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Thousand Oaks, California in 1969. He stayed there until he retired in 1991 and returned to Chadron, Nebraska.

In 1976, Dan received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from California State University Northridge.

Dan originally joined the Knights of Columbus in 1959 when he returned from the Army. He renewed his membership after moving back to Chadron in 1991. He held the offices of Outside Guard, Deputy Grand Knight, and Grand Knight. He then became a Past Grand Knight and Trustee and was a 4th Degree Knight, the highest order.

Dan started the National Weather Service job in September 1993 where he recorded the high and low temperature and measured the snow, and transmitted the information daily, until he resigned in 2004.

When he moved back to Chadron, he built his house, to his specifications, and stated, “I will live here until I die or can no longer take care of myself” which came true on 19 June 2025.