OBITUARY: Jack Matthews Conklin, 1918-2003, Mitchell Co., Iowa [Mitchell County Press-News online - Posted July 2, 2003] Jack M. Conklin Funeral services were held for Jack Matthews Conklin, age 84, on Monday, June 30, 2003, at the United Church of Christ in Osage. Reverend Robert Melhorn officiated. Interment was in the Osage Cemetery with Military Rites by Osage American Legion Post 278. Jack died Thursday, June 26, 2003 at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage. Jack Matthews Conklin was born October 11, 1918, in Clear Lake, the son of Harry and Helen (Matthews) Conklin. The family moved to Osage in 1927, when Harry became assistant county engineer for Mitchell County. Jack graduated from Osage High School in 1936. After graduation he completed graduate studies in commercial art and was a vocal soloist for WHO radio and played string bass in the Conky Conklin and His Commodores dance band. Jack was married to Ruth Cordes on September 22, 1940 in Osage. He then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as the crew chief of a B-25 bomber. After receiving his discharge, he operated the Conklin Stamp Company, managed the Green Parrot Restaurant in Decorah for a brief period, was a Division Manager for the Motor Club of Iowa, and in 1960 started selling Conklin chemical products with his father. In 1969 Jack, with his brother Bob, founded Conklin Company, Inc. in Burnsville, MN, which is now located in Shakopee, MN. Jack was Conklin's Senior Vice President and the creator of the Harry Conklin Museum. He retired in 1992. In 2002 Jack gifted the Harry Conklin Museum to the Mitchell County Historical Society. Preceding Jack in death were his parents; wife Ruth on October 2, 2001 and a brother Robert. His survivors include one daughter Ellen Elsbury of Osage; one granddaughter Mrs. David (Tanya) Womeldorf of Lakeville, MN; one sister Mrs. Sam (Ann) Erickson of Brick, NJ and one aunt Mrs. Jean Knutson of Clear Lake, IA.