LYMAN, Neb. – Howard F. Edwards, 90 of Lyman, died Feb. 6, 2017 at the Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell, Neb., with the Rev. Tom Youngquist officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill with the Nebraska National Guard providing military honors. Visitation will be 3to 5 p.m. Thursday at Jones Mortuary.
Mr. Edwards was born Oct. 19, 1926 in Mitchell, the first of four boys to Roland (Paddy) and Harriet (Hattie) Edwards. His early education was at Liberty School north of Morrill. He graduated from Lyman High School in 1944.
After graduation during a time of war, Mr. Edwards chose to serve his country in the military. After attempts to join the Air Force and Navy were turned down because of an over bite and flat feet, determined to serve his country, he joined the Army and became a paratrooper. After the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he was sent to Japan as part of the policing of the country.
Mr. Edwards spoke of the long boat ride to Japan which went through extremely rough seas by the Aleutian Islands and everyone including him got sea sick. He spoke fondly of his time in Japan and seemed to really like the people.
After his term of service was over he returned to the family farm south of Lyman. He married Wanda Marie Wallage and they began a life farming with Howard’s parents. To this union was born three children, Kay Lynn Edwards of Wheatridge, Colo.; Howard Michael Edwards of Parker, Colo.; and Daniel Lee Edwards of Douglas.
Mr. Edwards was passionate about farming, raising livestock, dancing and playing cowboy polo. As farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were recognized for several years as top sugar producers for the Great Western Sugar Company. While farming they also fed sheep and cattle in partnership with his parents.
In his spare time Mr. Edwards loved to hunt and shoot competitively with the Lyman Gun Club and passed that love on to his sons. He was well known for his commitment to the Lyman community serving many years as the treasurer for the Kiowa Rural Fire District, as a member and president of the Kiowa School Board, the Lyman/Henry Methodist Church board, and as a member of the Lyman/Morrill American Legion, the VFW, the Lyman Gun Club. He would not hesitate to assist any neighbor in need of help.
Mr. Edwards spent his early years playing baseball with his brothers in the sheep feed lot. The games would be he and the youngest Al versus Bob and Buzz. That love of baseball was with him until the day he died. He was an avid Colorado Rockies fan and enjoyed watching his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons play the game he loved. He enjoyed watching any sport, particularly if one of his grandchildren were playing.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his three children, Kay Edwards of Wheatridge, Colo., Major General Mike (Laury) Edwards of Parker, Colo., and Dan (Kathy) Edwards of Douglas; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and brothers Albert (Laura) Edwards of Scottsbluff, Neb., and Robert Edwards of Crawford, Neb.
Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his parents Paddy and Hattie, brother Roland E. (Buzz) Edwards, sister Bonnie Beasley, and grandson William Troy Dow.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Kiowa Rural Fire District or the Morrill American Legion Post 10. Online condolence may be left at www.jones-mortuary.com.
