Fr. Conrad of the Virgin Mother of Carmel was born Bertram Fliess near Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 8, 1926, the eighth of eleven children born to Lawrence and Hermine (Brand) Fliess. Mr. Fliess was a farmer and both parents were hard workers. But the times of the depression were felt, and the family had to work very hard in order to make ends meet. Bertram graduated from the 8th Grade at St. John the Baptist School in 1940. He had earlier expressed his desire to become a priest. He was helped by Sr. Mary Andrew, a Franciscan Sister and teacher at St. John’s to request admission into the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers at Holy Hill. Sr. Mary Andrew wrote to the Carmelite Father Rector, “His father is only a renter on a farm and is bringing up a family of ten children. He would be able to pay $100 or perhaps a little more per year. Would you take him for that?”

Bertram was admitted by the Carmelite Fathers in September 1940 and completed his high school studies at Holy Hill. On August 14, 1944, he received the Carmelite Habit and the name, Br. Conrad of the Virgin of Carmel. The next year, on August 15, 1945, Br. Conrad made his Temporary Profession and on December 20, 1952, was ordained a priest in Washington, DC.

During the following years, Fr. Conrad served the Order in various Carmelite monasteries throughout the province. He taught Latin and German in the Carmelite seminary and cherished all his life a special love for those two languages. From 1966 to 1972, Fr. Conrad served as a U.S. Army Chaplain in Colorado, Alaska and Germany. He served three years in the Carmelite monastery in Munich, Germany and was Pastor of St. Mary of the Hill, Holy Hill, Wisconsin for six years. 

In July 1985, Fr. Conrad was appointed Chaplain to the Discalced Nuns of the Carmelite Monastery, Grand Rapids, Michigan where he lived, ministered and prayed until his death on June 8, 1988. Father was greatly loved and respected by the Sisters. Upon his death, Fr. Conrad was survived by his father, L.W. Fliess aged 102 of Union Grove, Wisconsin; six brothers, two sisters, many nieces and nephews including Sr. Mary Veronica of the Holy Faith, a Carmelite Nun of Grand Rapids.

Fr. Conrad died on June 8, 1988, and is buried in St. John’s Cemetery, Paris, Wisconsin.

“In all of his actions, Father truly made himself, “all things to all”. Father Conrad was loved by everyone who knew him because everyone knew that they were loved by him… And how gracious was his smile! His face radiated the simplicity of his soul; and yet, his open heart always understood the needs and the sorrows of the many souls who came to him. He was a true Father to all.” Excerpt from WE ARE BORN TO LIVE FOR CHRIST, TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST AND TO DIE FOR CHRIST, a biography of Fr. Conrad Fliess, from the Carmel of Grand Rapids.