John W. Edwards, Jr.
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John “Bill” W. Edwards, Jr, 89, died October 30, 2023 at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living Facility. He was born November 23, 1933 in Eudora, Kansas to parents John W. Edwards, Sr, and Aleen (Bagby) Edwards.
John attended Eudora schools and graduated from Eudora High School in 1952. He married Beverly Broers in 1954. They celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage prior to Beverly’s passing in 2019. John and Beverly built their first home together in 1964 with the help of their fathers, John Sr and Clarence Broers. They raised two children: Richard (deceased) and Marilyn.
John was a gifted mechanic, inventor, and “fixer” of all things. He volunteered to be a bus driver in high school in exchange for mentoring from the bus mechanics. He loved driving trucks and maintained his CDL license for many years. He worked with his father building houses. He worked at the Eudora CO-OP, Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, Fairview Feed Company, BF Goodrich Plant, and spent the rest of his career at TRW (Lawrence, Kansas). He was responsible for keeping the mechanical systems running smoothly and described himself as a “self-taught mechanical engineer”.
John’s favorite hobby was fishing. He spent many hours fishing the Kansas River and area lakes with family and friends. He and Beverly enjoyed fishing in Wisconsin with her sister Jeanette and husband Duane, where he loved fishing for walleye and northern. John also enjoyed cooking, hunting, gardening, mushroom hunting, boating, and getting together with friends for card games. He and Beverly enjoyed dancing, eating out, and their friends.
John is survived by his daughter, Marilyn (Patrick) Parker. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Jason (Adrienne) Dunavin, Keith Dunavin, and Neil (Alice) Dunavin. He loved his great-grandchildren: Kailey Griese, Ella Dunavin, Alex Dunavin, Lilah Dunavin, Evelyn Dunavin, and Caleb Dunavin. He is survived by his sisters Carla (Bob) Deay and Denise (Bruce) Roberts, his nieces and nephews, and Beverly’s sisters Jeanette (Duane) Betterman and Margie Coleman.
Of all holidays, John enjoyed most enjoyed family Thanksgiving. He loved Thanksgiving turkey and the traditional dishes. This year, we will raise a toast to Dad and have a turkey leg is his honor.
Burial will be in Eudora Cemetery with private graveside service/celebration of life planned at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Just Food (Lawrence, Ks) or Ascend Hospice in care of Warren McElwain Mortuary. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Schnose and staff, Pioneer Ridge ALF, and Ascend Hospice for their care to John and family.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Uncle Bill will forever be in our hearts. All our thoughts and prayers are with you Marilyn and family.
I worked with Bill for many years at TRW in Lawrence. Bill was always willing to share the things he knew regarding all things mechanical and other life experiences. A great guy to know and seemed always up and ready to take on the day. So sorry to hear of his passing and extend my sincerest condolences to his family, he will be missed.
I really enjoyed getting to know your dad and mom at Pioneer Ridge. Bev was one of my favorite friends at there and Bill was wonderful helping me when we took groups out. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Uncle Bill and Ante Beverly played a large part in my life. I can’t express how much I loved going to Kansas with my family to visit Grandma and Uncle Bill and Ante Beverly, or when they came to visit us in Superior. Uncle Bill was always teaching me things and had an uncanny way to make complex simple. My wife and I were able to stop and visit with Uncle Bill last September (2022), what a wonderful visit we had. Uncle Bill and Ante Beverly will be forever loved, forever remembered and forever in our hearts.
Deepest sympathies for you and your family. You are in our prayers.
Bill and Beverly were so nice and their family. Sad for you.
Deepest sympathy to your family.
Marilyn and family, wishing you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Marilyn, I never had to opportunity to meet your dad, but he sounds like quite a guy! I know he will be missed dearly by all that loved him. Thoughts and prayers during this time for you and your family.
Marilyn and family,
I’m sorry for your loss with your dad’s passing away. He sounds like a pretty amazing man. I’m sure he will be missed but I’m glad you can celebrate Thanksgiving in his honor!
My deepest sympathies for all of you.
Marilyn, I am very sorry to hear about your dad passing away. He sounds like an amazing man and father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. .
Marilyn, Neil and family, I am very sorry for your loss and appreciated hearing about his remarkable life. What a tradeoff-driving a school bus for mentoring! May the happy memories outshine any hard ones. Wishing you comfort and please know your KU team is thinking of you.
Dear Marilyn & Family, I am so sorry for your loss. What a special man he was. He will be terribly missed, just like his dear wife Beverly. You couldn’t help but love these 2 special people…they made a special mark in my life, and I spoke of them often to my children. They will both be “Forever in my heart”. Sending prayers of peace & comfort to you all.
Merry Christmas Bill
Missing you💕
Bill was one of the warmest and most welcoming people we have had the pleasure of knowing. It always felt like he only had kind and thoughtful things to say. A great loss to you and your family, but what an honor it is to have been a part of it. He will be greatly missed.