Edward Francis Shima, 20 Nov 1928 - 07 Jan 2021

SHIMA, BRENNAN, NEILL

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/14/2021 at 10:51:00

Edward Francis Shima, 92, of Marengo, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, at Rose Haven Nursing Home, Marengo. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Marengo, with Father David Wilkening officiating. A public visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Marengo, with military honors.

Memorials may be contributed to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Marengo. Masks and social distancing will be required at all services. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Edward was born Nov. 20, 1928, the son of Frank and Mary (Brennan) Shima. He was raised in Cedar County, Iowa. Edward married Nell Burton Neill in Jackson, Miss., on Feb. 14, 1953. Nell passed away in 2007.

Ed and Nell raised six children, Mark (Dr. Robin Boineau) of Washington, D.C., Ann of Iowa City, Lamar (Tammy) of Ellisville, Miss., Jean (deceased 2018), Peter (deceased 1974) and Tom of Washington, D.C. Ed has eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren

Ed served in the U.S. Marine Corps aboard the USS Essex from 1951-53 during the Korean conflict. In 1956 Ed and Nell purchased and farmed the Shima Farm located in Washington Township, Iowa County, Iowa, at the "center of the universe." He was grateful to live on the Shima Farm until his death.

He was known as a proficient welder and able to fix about anything. In the 1960s Ed was a pioneer, organizer and television moderator in the National Farmers Organization (NFO), which was part of the farm collective bargaining movement. He served as Chairman of the Iowa County Board of Supervisors in the 1970s, having been one of the first two Democrats elected to the Board of Supervisors since the early 1930s.

Over the years Ed was president and affiliated with numerous organizations including the Democratic Central Committee, the Mental Health Board at Mount Pleasant, St. Patrick's Church Council and Building Committee and the Genealogy Society. Ed did not play golf, rather his greatest hobby was cutting brush and caring for his farm.

Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Gazette on January 9, 2021 and in The Hometown Current on January 13, 2021.