Edwin J. Donovan 1922-1998

DONOVAN, BRENNAN, KENNEDY, ADUDDELL, ELBERT, HAMILTON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/19/2011 at 21:24:41

Edwin J. Donovan
Estherville – Funeral services for Edwin J. Donovan, 76, of Estherville, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 1999 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Monsignor Tom Nash officiating. Interment at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. He died on Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998 at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.

Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville. Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and Parish Vigil Service a 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Full military graveside rites by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91.

He was born July 8, 1922 in Estherville, the son of Matt and Kathryn (Kennedy) Donovan. He lived most of his life in the Estherville area and began his education in the rural Emmet County schools, graduating from Estherville High School in 1939. He attended Estherville Junior College for one years, then attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He was a member of Phi Delta Fraternity. During the summer of 1943, he attended the School of Mines in Deadwood, S.D.

He served under General George Patton during World War II in the U.S. Army from 1943-45. He was involved in many of the major battles, including Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the Silver Star. He was a Captain in Graves Registration. Many of his military accomplishments are documented in the book, “Cross’s in The Wind.”

He was united in marriage to Loretta Brennan at St. Albert the Great Church in Minneapolis on July 18, 1946. The couple moved back to Estherville and he operated a car dealership in Gruver, Armstrong and Mitchell, S.D.

In 1953 he purchased his father’s interest in Donovan Motors and operated the dealership until his retirement.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, VFW Post 3388, American Legion Post 91 and the Elk’s Lodge. He was the Emmet County Director of the Automobile Dealers Association. He was a member of the Estherville Drum and Bugle Corp., enjoyed his grandchildren, traveling, history, auto racing and all sports.

Survivors include his wife, Loretta Donovan, Estherville; a son, Pat Donovan, Spirit Lake,; three daughters, Mary Kay Donovan, Spirit Lake, Mrs. Darrel (Nanci) Aduddell, Storm Lake and Mrs. Dan (Maureen) Elbert, Whittemore; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Bill (Maxine) Hamilton, St. Louis Park, Minn., and Mary Kay Donovan, Alexandria, Minn.; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 4, 1999)