Leo 'Jack' Edwards

Leo ‘Jack’ Edwards, 89, of Clarion passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion following complications of a stroke.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 5, 2014, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, Iowa.

Private services and burial will be held later at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Madrid.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be provided to the family to give to charities of their choice.

Jack, the son of Anthony and Jennie (Adams) Edwards, was born on a farm in Boone County, Iowa, on January 13, 1925.  He graduated from Luther High School in 1942.  Jack had a passion for baseball and was recruited by the Chicago White Sox as a first baseman.   Instead, he chose to continue farming. On July 30, 1949, he married Marilyn Ashbaugh at the Fjeldberg Lutheran parsonage in Huxley and they celebrated their 65th anniversary this year. Jack was baptized in the Christian faith.

The couple farmed near Polk City, while he also worked for John Deere in Ankeny. In 1960, Jack was hired as the state conservation officer for Wright and Hancock counties by the Iowa Conservation Commission (now the Iowa Department of Natural Resources). He was presented the Shikar-Safari Club International award as Iowa Conservation Officer of the Year in 1987, the year he retired.

Jack excelled at hunting, fishing, and trapping and participated in this sport with friends at every opportunity. He won numerous trophies for firearm marksmanship. He enjoyed wood carving, playing cards, gardening and traveling with Marilyn in their motorhome.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two sons: Mark (Elaine) of Wamego, Kansas and Steve (Mickey) of Knoxville; five grandchildren: Jason of Boone, Nathan of Ankeny, Justin of Raymond, Cale of Garner, and Tess of Knoxville; one sister Barbara Fitzgibbon of West Des Moines; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Earl and his hunting and fishing buddies.