Edwards, Thomas 1918-2007

EDWARDS, MITCHELL, LOBBERECHT

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/20/2008 at 15:56:53

Tom was born Aug. 30, 1918, to Mathew and Faye Edwards in Hiteman. Tom grew up and attended school in the Beacon and Oskaloosa areas. He served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in December 1945.

He married Mary Lou Mitchell in 1956 and to this union, three children were born. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou, in 1993; son, Todd M. Edwards in 1990; parents and sister, Esther Edwards.

Tom married Wanda Lobberecht of Oskaloosa on Dec. 30, 1995, who lovingly took care of him until his death.

He managed the Ford dealership in Oskaloosa and in 1956, opened his own Ford dealership in Knoxville. After years in the car business, Tom opened United Siding Products with locations in Des Moines, Rock Island, Ill.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. He also owned Edwards Home Improvement in Knoxville for many years. Tom loved the sales business, was well respected by his peers and greatly loved by his family. He will be missed by all.

Tom loved church and was very devotional. He also started the brick fund raising project, which was instrumental in funding the building of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, VFW, American Legion and a past Rotary Club member.

He passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines at the age of 89.

Tom is survived by his wife, Wanda; son, Tom (Denise) Edwards of Des Moines; their children, Tommy III of Des Moines, Amy (Trevor) Fisher of Chicago, Ill.; daughters, Tami (Marty) Montgomery, their children Olivia, Natalie and Davis of Knoxville; Shirley Culver and Sandra (Bob) Bliss, all of Greeley, Colo.; stepchildren, Larry (Lou Ann) Lobberecht of Eddyville, Linda (Jim) Kerr of Sigourney, Lynette (Marlin) Vande Wall of Kirkville, 17 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, brothers, Lewis (Mildred) Edwards of Altoona, Matt, Jr. (Janet) Edwards of Mesa, Ariz., Richard (Margaret) Edwards of Knoxville; sisters, Annabelle Vallandingham of Tecumseh, Okla. and Elsie Edwards of Marcus.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 8, at Celebrate Community Church in Knoxville with Pastor Gary Roozeboom officiating. Internment with military honors was in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Memorials may be made to Celebrate Community Church or the Beacon First United Methodist Church. Evans-McCleery Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

The Knoxville Journal Express, December 14, 2007