Edwin Laverne Hadder

April 24, 1931 – April 22, 2014

Edwin L. Hadder, husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on April 22, 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 24, 1931 the first of two children born to Edwin and Gwendolyn Hadder.

The family lived in Mecosta, MI where Ed graduated from Mecosta Rural Agricultural High School in 1949. Ed joined the U.S. Army on February 1, 1951. He spent several months in training at Fort Worden, WA, and two weeks aboard a ship to Japan, followed by two months of training before deploying to Korea. After five months in Korea, Ed traveled by ship back to the USA. It took two weeks to get to the USA!

Ed worked with his father hauling pickles, potatoes, and gravel before and after his time with the Army. He also worked for C &O Railroad, Nash Kelvinator, and many other jobs. In Willmar, MN Ed was a mail carrier for 30 years. If he ever forgot your name, he would always remember your address! Ed kept busy in his retirement days helping people – seventeen years at Wal-Mart, both in Willmar and Colorado Springs.

Annual trips to Michigan for Memorial Day and class reunions were a highlight for Ed. Also trips to Korea, Norway, Australia and New Zealand fulfilled his desire to travel.

Ed married Mavis (Roelofs) Hadder in April of 1953. Four daughters were born to this marriage:

Patricia Leiter, of Blanchard, MI; Edwina Preslicka, of Northfield, MN; Teresa Hadder, deceased; Sandy Thompson, deceased.

Ed married Patricia (Pechacek) in July of 1982 in Willmar, MN. Ed and Pat moved to Colorado Springs, CO in August of 2002.

Ed is survived by his wife Patricia Hadder, of Colorado Springs, CO; Brother John W. Hadder, of Crossville, TN; Daughters Patricia Leiter of Blanchard, MI; Edwina Preslicka of Northfield, MN; Daughter by marriage Ronna Hoglund of Colorado Springs, CO; eleven grandchildren, many great grandchildren, a nephew, a niece, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his son by marriage Roger Pechacek.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 from 1-2 p.m. Services will begin at 2 p.m. with light refreshments afterwards and time for fellowship. It will take place at Swan-Law Funeral Directors 501 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.