Conrad Medler, 22

Conrad Medler, 22, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, in Missoula, of natural causes related to his diabetes.

He was born March 26, 1990, in Seattle, to Jeffrey and Diane Medler.     

Conrad was finishing school at the University of Montana where he studied business and entertainment management.

His family remembered him as a sweet-natured young man who loved the outdoors.

"He was always there when you needed him," said his father, Jeff Medler. "He had a love for cooking, golfing, sailing, fishing."

Conrad was also a talented musician who played the guitar and drums. He spent a summer in New York City in 2011, interning at Magus Entertainment where he helped with the management of bands, including Duran Duran.

He moved to Bigfork from Seattle with his family in 1995 when he was just starting kindergarten. Growing up, he took full advantage of the area's natural surroundings. During the winters he would ski on Big Mountain. In the spring and summer he golfed at courses like Eagle Bend, where he also worked for five years, and sailed with his family on Flathead Lake. His friends and family remembered him as someone who was full of life. As a child he attended Camp Fun in the Sun, a summer camp for children with diabetes. He made lifelong friendships at the camp and eventually became a counselor, working with young people first learning how to live with their condition.

Mark Vandlik met Conrad his first day of college.

"I've never met anyone like that before," said 22-year-old Vandlik, who shared an apartment with Conrad. "I walked into the room and immediately knew I had a friend. Conrad just really had an old soul, a great heart and could get along with anyone. You could talk to him about anything."

Vandlik added that Conrad never let his diabetes restrict him.

His love of people also inspired his cooking. He developed inventive recipes with friends, like a chipotle cream cheese hamburger, surprising and delighting everyone who ate his food. After finishing his bachelor's degree, Conrad was planning to attend culinary school.

Conrad is survived by his parents, Jeff and Diane; sister, Alina; his aunt, Gayle Wilhelm, from Ronan; and family in California and Ohio.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. today, Oct. 3, at 689 Swan River Road, Bigfork.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Conrad’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Conrad’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.

People who would like to contribute to juvenile diabetes research can do so on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation website at www.jdrf.org. You can click on the link in the top right hand corner of the screen that says "Donate." Then on the left side of the screen you will see a link that says, "Make a Memorial Donation." To designate a chapter, please choose "WA - Inland Northwest Branch" which will help to support diabetes programs such as Camp Fun In The Sun. For next of kin, please put Jeff Medler at the address P.O. Box 1957, Bigfork, Montana 59911.