Josiah "Skip" Conkling

Josiah “Skip” Conkling, 71, passed away on June 10, 2017, at Prairie View Village in Altoona. He was born in Des Moines, on May 12, 1946, to Josiah and June Conkling.

Skip served his community as a business owner of Conkling Services for 40 years. Skip had been a member and EMS training officer of the Altoona Fire Department, served on the Care Review Committee of Homestead, and was active in seminars and training for elected officials for Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He was a commissioner on the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Commission, as well as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Metropolitan Advisory Council, 2030 Transportation Task Force and the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. In his professional career, Skip was a licensed master plumber and master electrician. He traveled to Washington DC for 29 years to lobby on behalf of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

With pride, Skip was currently serving the community of Altoona as Mayor since 2012, and was a City Council member for 16 years prior to becoming mayor. Skip was a very kind and hardworking man who always had a smile on his face. People were his hobby as was shown by how much he gave of himself to others and never knew a stranger. Most of all, Skip loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren.

Skip is survived by his wife of 18 years, Jeanie Conkling; children, Shawn (Jeanie) Conkling, Matthew Conkling; step-children, Holly (Les) Driskill, Tarena (Don) Toy and Bowe (Kristy) Tomash; grandchildren, Brandi, Samantha, Sabrina, Chase, Bailey, Seeley, Trevor, Derek, Mason, Mead, Molly and Ryder; three great-grandchildren; many other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Family will receive visitors from 4 to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at Altoona United Methodist Church, 602 5th Ave., SW, Altoona. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, June 15, also at the church. Burial will take place for friends and family at 11:00 a.m., Friday at the Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Altoona Library, in loving memory of Skip.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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