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John R. Conaway, 102, a resident of Rio Rancho, NM since 1975, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2009. He was born September 8, 1907 in Des Moines, Iowa, the oldest of eight children born to Charles A. and Katherine Bauck Conaway. His parents; two brothers; and five sisters preceded him in death. His wife, Winifred passed away on her 86th birthday on November 1, 1994. They were looking forward to their 65th wedding anniversary on June 10, 1995. Early in life, John was a florist, assisting his father who operated the business in Des Moines, Iowa. John started with American Telephone & Telegraph Co. in Des Moines, Iowa on December 26, 1929 and retired at Omaha, Nebraska on October 1, 1972 with nearly 43 years of service. He served as a technician until September 1, 1945 when he was promoted to management as Transmission supervisor at Hamburg, Iowa. During his career he had many assignments and locations: Des Moines, Mason City, Stuart, Davenport and Hamburg in Iowa and was transferred to Omaha, Nebraska on January 1, 1950. His last three years before retirement were as Operations Supervisor-Administrations. During his years in Omaha, John maintained a FCC Radio Telephone License which was required by Federal Law of anyone supervising the handling of radio equipment and /or facilities. During World War II he conducted training classes in electronics at Davenport, Iowa for the war effort. He also served as block warden for his neighborhood as a part of the Civil Defense Program during 1944 and 1945. He was temporarily transferred to the A.T.& T.Co. Division Engineering Group in Chicago as an Engineering Assistant in charge of a field testing crew which prepared A.T. & T. cables between Chicago and Lincoln, NE. to carry additional toll telephone circuits badly needed for the war effort. John's hobbies were radio and electronics, woodworking, music, hunting and fishing, and associated camping and back packing. He took many big game hunting trips in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. He went to Canada many times on fishing trips. In music, he started to play the violin at age five, and the piano shortly thereafter. He has composed a number of solo pieces for the piano, which have been recorded but not published. While living in Davenport and Hamburg, Iowa he directed his church choirs. He was active in Boy Scout work in Davenport and Hamburg, serving as Scoutmaster and as Troop Committee Chairman, and as Merit Badge Counsellor in Radio and in Electricity. He was a member of the "Order of the Arrow". John was a member of Omaha Council, Casper & Yost Chapter No. 19, Telephone Pioneers of America. He served on many chapter committees and was President of The Omaha council in 1965. After retirement and upon moving to New Mexico, he served the fiscal year 1978-1979 as President of the Albuquerque Life Member Club of the Telephone Pioneers. He became a Life Member of the Rio Rancho Club when it was formed upon split-off from the Albuquerque Club in 1980. John became a member of Kiwanis International in the fall of 1945, and served on the Board of Directors of the Hamburg, Iowa Club for several years. He became Lieutenant Governor of Division 5, Nebraska-Iowa District for the fiscal year 1949-1950. He was the first Lieutenant Governor to be elected from the Hamburg club which had been organized in 1923. He was a charter member of the Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club which was organized March 2, 1978. He became its second President, serving the fiscal year 1979-1980. He was a member of the Board of Directors continuously from the beginning through September 30, 1992 or 14 1/ 2 years. He served four terms as Secretary-Treasurer, and was awarded the title "Distinguished Secretary" for his work during the 1989-1990 fiscal year. While in Omaha, John served St. Richards Church as a Lector, member of the Parish Financial Board and one of the first Eucharistic Ministers. He is a member of the Cursillo Movement, having been inducted while still in Omaha. In Rio Rancho he served St. Thomas Aquinas Church for a time as a member of the financial team and also as Eucharistic Minister. John is survived by three children, James D. Conaway and wife Joyce of Fort Madison, Iowa, Virginia G. Scott of Hallsville, Missouri, and Judith C. Schwery and husband Aelred of Albuquerque, NM; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; many cousins, nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the Rosary being recited at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Rd. at Meadowlark Ln., Rio Rancho. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque with burial following. In lieu of flowers, it has been suggested that memorial donations be made to the St. Vincent Depaul Society, 714 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For those who wish, you may send condolences to the family at www.danielsfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124 (505) 892-9920
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