Edgar Francis Herr (Ed)

Granger

Edgar Francis Herr (Ed) age 91, passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at the Community Life Center Hospice at Veterans Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Per his wishes his body has been cremated and family will gather to celebrate his life at a future date.

Ed was born on December 10, 1922 in Dallas Center, Iowa to Albert and Vivian Herr. He was the second son of seven children. Ed graduated from Dallas Center High School and attended Simpson College. He married Helena Weaver in 1943. Ed served in World War II as an Army Air Corp pilot and logged 4,000 hours flying B-17 and B-29 planes. He was honorably discharged in March, 1946.

He worked as a Clerk for the Iowa Transfer Railway Co. for 25 years until the company closed in September, 1966. Ed also worked as Dispatcher for JC White Companies and Iowa Concrete Products. In 1988 Ed retired as Office Manager at Pepsico.

In retirement Ed volunteered at Blank Park Zoo and the Festival of Trees and Lights for many years. He believed in being active in his community. Ed was District Governor, 9-X5 for Lions Clubs International and was named a Melvin Jones Fellow, the highest honor conferred by the foundation. He served as an Elder in Christian churches in West Des Moines and Pleasantville, Iowa. In March of 1996, Ed traveled to Amatitlan, Guatemala as part of the S.M.A.R.T. Team. As an orderly, Ed helped with 64 surgeries on the cleft lip and palate, plastics, orthopedic, and dental team.

Ed enjoyed ballroom dancing, hiking, riding his bike, playing cards and dining out at Jesse’s Embers. He tried to hike the Appalachian Trail but “couldn’t take the rain and loneliness.” He completed a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. Ed worked on 9 Sierra Club Service Outings building and rebuilding hiking trails in Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Isle Royale in Michigan. He completed 7 RAGBRAI adventures and often ended visits with “I’ll see you on down the trail.”

Ed is survived by his daughter, Susan Lustig (Michael) and son, Craig Herr (Suzanne). He had three grandchildren Benjamin Lustig (Amy), Jacob Herr, Katherine Herr and twin great grandsons. Also surviving are his brother James (Cindy) Herr of Sun City West, Arizona and his sister Helen Collaro of Long Island, New York. Ed also had four step-children and four step-grandchildren from his marriages to Carolyn Garresin and Charlotte Heaberlin.

Ed’s philosophy of life was “I do something nice for you, then you do something nice for someone else and so it goes.”

The family would like to thank Dr. Flood and the nurses and staff at VA Hospital for their kindness and care. Also thank you to Ed’s caregivers at Granger Nursing and Rehabilitation.