Conrad J. Gillaspie was born May 24, 1952, at St. Mary's Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota, the son of John and Avis (Schilling) Gillaspie.

He grew up in the Ottumwa and Midland areas, graduating from Midland High School in 1970.  As a young man, he worked for various farmers in the Midland area.  He also worked at the Standard Station before enlisting in the U.S. Navy on October 5, 1971.  He attended Recruit Training in San Diego, California, and Machinist Mate "A" School in Great Lakes, Illinois.  He then entered the nuclear pipeline, where he attended Naval Nuclear Power School in Vallejo, California, and completed qualification at the S5G Prototype in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Upon completion of his nuclear training, he attended C-1 Welding School in San Diego, California.

On Master Chief Gillaspie's first submarine, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN 602) GOLD, he served as a member of Machinery Division from March 1974 to June 1977 and advanced from MM3 to MM1.  Following his first sea tour, he returned to the S5G Prototype where he served as a mechanical instructor from July 1977 to October 1980.  He then transferred to USS PLUNGER (SSN 595), where he served as a member of the Machinery Division from November 1980 to October 1981 and was advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer.  He transferred to USS POGY (SSN 647) in October 1981, where he served as the Reactor Laboratory and Machinery Division Leading Petty Officer and was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer.

In January 1986, he transferred back to the S5G Prototype where he qualified Engineering Officer of the Watch and Engineering Duty Officer.  In June 1989, he transferred to the USS PARCHE (SSN 683), where he served as the Engineering Department Enlisted Advisor and advanced to Machinist Mate Master Chief Petty Officer.  In June 1992, he transferred to the Mare Island Detachment of Submarine Development Group One, where he served as the Material Officer until September 1994.

Master Chief Gillaspie was then selected to serve as Chief of the Boat on USS DRUM (SSN 677) from September 1994 to June 1995.  He transferred to Submarine Squadron Eleven in June 1995, where he served as the Assistant Command Master Chief until April 1996.  His second tour as Chief of the Boat was on the USS CHICAGO (SSN 721) from April 1996 until May 1997.

Master Chief Gillaspie was married to the former Marilyn Wiedower of San Diego, California.  They retired to Hot Springs, South Dakota, where they owned and operated the ROCKING G Bed & Breakfast until September 1999 when they moved to Midland.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Marilyn Gillaspie of Midland; four sons, Timothy Gillaspie of Sonoma, California, John Gillaspie of Midland, Matthew Leighton of Lewistown, Montana, and Mark Leighton of Rapid City; a daughter, Connie Marie Gillaspie of Midland; two grandsons, Michael and Jacob Leighton; his parents, John and Avis Gillaspie of Midland; four brothers, John L. Gillaspie of Hot Springs, Ken Gillaspie of Blunt, James Gillaspie of Ft. Pierre, and Rocky Gillaspie of Midland; four sisters, Evie Abrahamson of Bowman, North Dakota, Marilyn Gillaspie of Ft. Pierre, Mary G. Schofield of Midland, and Deloris Suminski of Ord, Nebraska; six nephews, five nieces, and four great-nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Conrad was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; a sister in infancy; two brothers, Ronald Gillaspie on October 7, 1999, and a brother in infancy; and one nephew.

Mass of Christian Burial
Wednesday, February 9, 2000
10:00 a.m.
St. William Catholic Church
Midland, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Tony Grossenburg

Con-Celebrant
Father Dale Kutil

Music
Sister Veronique Wiedower, CSC - Organist
Madeline Wiedower - Vocalist

Ushers
Carl Suminski - Doug Abrahamson
Vincent Schofield - Norace Olson

Active Pallbearers
Jay Gillaspie - Mark Nemec - Jerry Nemec
Dan Holloway - Jerry Chesser - Bill Cheever

Honorary Pallbearers
Graduating Class of 1970
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Military Honors
by Midland American Legion Post
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota