Mead, Edward J. 1929-2013

MEAD, TURNER, WHITE, PLINE, SOUTHARD, ALDREDGE, KASSER, WICK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/30/2014 at 10:30:02

Edward Mead 1929 - 2013
Marshalltown

Edward J. Mead Jr., 83, of Marshalltown, IA, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Southridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Marshalltown while under the care of Iowa River Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at St. Mary Catholic Church, in Marshalltown, IA Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a Vigil service held at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at St. Mary Catholic Church. Additional visitation times will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, at the Main St. Chapel of the Anderson Funeral Homes, in Marshalltown. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, in Marshalltown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Mary Catholic Church, Iowa River Hospice, Marshalltown Community College Foundation, Rotary Scholarship Committee or Iowa State Marching Band. (Go Cyclones!) Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.

Ed was born August 25, 1929, to Edward J. Sr. and Alice Turner Mead, at home on the family farm. He was Irish and very proud of it. He attended Albion and St. Mary's schools and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1946. Ed then graduated from Marshalltown Community College and Iowa State University majoring in Animal Husbandry.

During the Korean Conflict, he served in the Air Force Veterinary Corp before coming home to farm. While in the Air Force, Ed met and married Janet White, the love of his life. They were married at St. Victor Church in Calumet City, IL, at a solemn high mass and were married for 61 years.

Ed's life was a full one. He was a totally devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and true friend. He was a successful farmer, realtor, and appraiser throughout central Iowa and beyond. He retired in 2009.

Ed's faith was of utmost importance to him. He was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church in 1986, and served St. Mary for 23 years together with five fine pastors. He was well known for his heartfelt homilies. He also assisted at Baptisms, Weddings, and funerals in Marshalltown, Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, and Kansas.

Ed served his community well. He was president of Rotary, and received the Ken Brintnall Award. Ed was also president of the Marshalltown School Board and the Marshall County Extension Board. He served on church, community, and real estate boards and was a member of the American Legion and Elmwood Country Club.

Music was a large part of his life and in high school he won the State contest with his saxophone. He was a member of the MHS band, the Municipal band, the Union band, the Iowa State University Band, and a treasured sax quartet.

Ed fully supported his wife's goal of completing her college degrees and cared for the family and home during those years. He was a great dancer and cook, the latter, a skill he taught his wife and children.

Left to cherish Ed's memory is his loving wife, Janet; five children, Ed III(Veronica) of Cambridge, MA, Rick (Diane) of Omaha, NE, Dan (Deb) of Marshalltown, Rosanne of Des Moines, and Tom (Suzanne) of Marshalltown; grandchildren, Angela Pline (Brad), Matthew Mead, Katie Southard (John), Michaela Aldredge (Jeff), Ryan Mead, Turner Mead, Kaley Mead, Cody Mead; and great-grandchildren, Nicolas and Camdon Aldredge and Addison Pline.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Ed and Alice; sisters, Mary Elizabeth Kasser (Ed), Alice Wick (Bob); and in-laws, Louis and Ethel White. ~ The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa 5 Mar 2013.