Richard Allan Conover

Dr. Richard Allan Conover, Jr., 88, of Waupaca, WI, husband of Sandra Holz Conover, entered into eternal life Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Greenville Memorial Hospital (South Carolina).

Richard (Dick) was born in Chicago, Illinois, a son of the late Rachel Laramy and Richard Allan Conover, Sr. After he graduated from the University of Michigan, the Air Force identified his talent for teaching, and he served as a classroom instructor at Lackland AFB. Then for several years he worked with his father to build O-So Grape and Bubble Up into national soft drink brands. He criss-crossed the country as a traveling salesman, and his love of traveling and seeing the country grew. His ability to recall all of those roads, towns, hotels, and seemingly every meal he ever ate only grew throughout his life. He loved studying language, and enjoyed picking up dialects along the way.

He married Sandra (Sandy), the love of his life, on October 30, 1965. He returned to school to earn his Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin and his PhD from Colorado State University. Grad school fed his passion to teach and his love for our national and state parks. He joined the Clemson University faculty in 1974, becoming a Professor in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He mentored countless PRTM students, some of whom have made professional careers in the SC State Parks. During those years in Clemson, he spent many weekends hiking with Sandy, and their two children, Tim, and Cindy, soaking in all of the beauty of the state and national parks. They were faithful members of Clemson United Methodist Church. He also organized transportation on the Troop Committee for Boy Scout Troop 235.

Upon retirement from Clemson University, he and Sandy moved to Waupaca, Wisconsin in 1995, and they regularly returned to visit friends in Clemson. They became faithful members of Parfreyville United Methodist Church. He served on the Board of the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes Association. He continued to advocate for natural resources conservation, and they put their farm property under a conservation easement, preserving this open space from development.
Dick taught his children to skipper small sailboats, which was magical to them. He loved the Appalachian Mountains, the lakes, and all the natural world, and he shared his love of Nature and all learning with his family and his students. He loved travel, especially Mexico and the Spanish language, and he took great pleasure in attending ethnic festivals, live Bluegrass music, and in later years developed an appreciation for Old-Time music and even lutefisk. He was known for his diplomacy, sympathy and consideration for others, well-informed conversation, kindness, appreciation, and gentle humor. His smile and laugh were infectious, and brightened those around him. He never took the kindness of others for granted, and he did what he could to make the world better.

Surviving in addition to Sandy, his wife of 54 great years, are his son, Timothy Conover of Central, SC; daughter, Cindy Conover Yacek and husband, Henry of Richmond, KY; his grandson, Daniel Yacek; also, sisters-in-law Linda Holz of W. DesMoines, IA, and Nancy Buman of Kiel, WI.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his brother, Lawrence Conover; his father- and mother-in-law Harry and Dorothy Holz; and brothers-in-law Daniel Holz and Jerome Buman.

Memorial Services will be announced at later dates, in the Fall in Clemson and perhaps sooner in Waupaca.

A graveside committal service will be held at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be made to the Richard and Sandy Conover Endowed Scholarship within the Clemson University Foundation, or to Parfreyville UMC (Waupaca, WI), or to the National Parks Conservation Association.