Edwards, Francis David (1920-2016)

EDWARDS, DONALDSON, GRAHAM, SKEELS, RASMUSSEN, BUCHHOLZ, BRUCE, COLBURN, MEYER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/18/2017 at 15:38:38

Francis David Edwards
November 27, 1920 - December 1, 2016

Francis David Edwards, age 96, of Newell, Iowa, died on Thursday, December 1, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Newell.

A son of John Johnston Edwards and Margaret Graham (Donaldson) Edwards, Francis was born east of Newell on the Maud Wart farm on November 27, 1920. He attended school from first through the twelfth grades at the Sulphur Springs Consolidated School. While in high school, he played basketball, pitched for the baseball team, and ran track. He graduated in 1939. Next, he worked on the family farm and for neighbors while taking a class to become a postmaster.

In 1942, Francis was drafted into the United States Army where he proudly served his country and earned the rank of Sargent T4 before he was honorably discharged. Upon returning home, he worked on the farm and helped Paul Parks while also building for Hygrade. In addition, he worked for the Buena Vista Hospital. One night at the Cobblestone, he met Myrna Skeels. After a courtship, he married her on June 12, 1949, at the First Baptist Church in Storm Lake. They made their home in an upstairs apartment before moving to their farm in Newell. In time, they were blessed with four children: Douglas, Randall, Laurie, and Melinda. Francis and Myrna were married for 63 years. He continued farming until 2007 when he developed a few health problems.

A member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell and of American Legion Post 193 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, he served on the Newell Providence School Board for six years from 1971 to 1977 and on the Newell City Council for twenty years from 1978 to 1997.

Francis enjoyed pitching horseshoes. Indeed, he won numerous trophies including the Iowa State Farmers Division in 1972. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Myrna. He treasured his family and cherished the time he could spend with them. He will be, deeply, missed by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children: Randy (Dyann) Edwards, Laurie (Rodney) Rasmussen, and Melinda (Tony) Buchholz, all of Newell, Iowa, and Doug (Debbie) Edwards, of Southlake, Texas; his grandchildren: Heather (Andre) Bruce; Brett (Alicia) and Chad Buchholz; Taryn (Shawn) Colburn; Bryce (Ashly), Jason (Kristi), Lynde, Steve (Julie), and Zach (Courtney) Edwards; Leigh (Brent) Meyer; and Dak (Leigh) Rasmussen; his great grandchildren: Alannah, Amaryss, and Zoey Bruce; Anna, Josiah, and Micah Buchholz; Lillyan and MadIiyn Colburn; Brandon, Cameron, Caydance, Dylan, Hunter, James, Jordan, Landon, Slade, Sloan, and baby boy Edwards; April, Caden, and Garrett Meyer; and Maggie, Nora, and Will Rasmussen; and his brother, Kenneth (Beatta) Edwards, of Storm Lake, Iowa; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Myrna; his parents, John and Margaret Edwards; and one brother, Norman (Janina) Edwards.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell. Burial will take place at 9:00 a.m. before the service at the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake with full Military Rites conducted by the Newell American Legion. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake with the family present the entire time. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is overseeing the arrangements.

Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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