Edwin Recker

Edwin Recker, age 94, of Alta Vista, IA, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2011 with his family gathered around him at Colonial Manor in Elma. Edwin Carl Recker was born June 17, 1917 along with his twin brother, Elmer to Clem and Ida (Willenburg) Recker in Chickasaw County near Alta Vista. He had six brothers; Al, Art, Herb, Elmer, Leonard and Joe and two sisters; Rose and Clara. They grew up on a farm and helped with all the farm chores. Ed attended St. William’s school in Alta Vista and completed eight years of school. After school he continued to help his father on the farm. On September 17, 1940, Ed was united in marriage to Katherine Meirick at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista. To this union six children were born; John, Nancy, Kay, Karen, Robert and Joanne. They milked cows for 25 years, raised hogs and crop farmed for 42 years west of Alta Vista before building a home and retiring in Alta Vista in 1982. After retiring Ed continued to have an interest in farming and would go for his daily drives throughout the countryside to check the crops and see what other farmers were doing. Ed and Katherine were married for 67 years before Katherine passed away in October of 2007. Farming was very important to Ed but he and Katherine found time to attend several dances as they both enjoyed music and dancing. They enjoyed various bus tours throughout the United States and traveled to Alaska twice. Ed found entertainment in watching baseball, especially the Twins and Cubs. He was fond of visiting with others about farming and always looked forward to spending time with his family. Ed served on the board of Cresco Creamery for six years and was also a Trustee in Deerfield Township for 23 years. He was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Ed is survived by two sons; John (Marlys) Recker of Roswell, GA, Robert (Mary Jane) Recker of Green River, WY, Nancy (Michael) Ungs of Alta Vista, Kay (Dan) Hartson of New Hampton, Karen (Tom) Wyatt of Eldridge, IA, Joanne (Jerry) Heying of New Hampton; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Joseph (Margaret) Recker of Alta Vista; one sister-in-law, Madonna Recker of Alta Vista and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Katherine, October 31, 2007; his brothers Herbert, Art, Al, Leonard, and his twin brother, Elmer; his sisters, Clara and Rose and his granddaughters, Victoria, Kathy, Megan and Kelsey. Cemetery: Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Alta Vista. Memorials may be directed to the Recker family. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00pm, Friday, September 9, 2011 with a 4:30pm rosary and 7:00pm scriptural wake service at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30am, Saturday, September 10, 2011 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista, Iowa with Father Ray Atwood celebrating.