Funeral services for Edward Neil Pegg, 72, of Jefferson will be Thursday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at the Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson. Friends may call at the funeral home after 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, with the family present from 5-8 p.m. Burial will be at the Franklin Township Cemetery in Cooper.
Ed died Saturday, June 9, 2018, at his home south of Jefferson.
Ed was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Oct. 15, 1945, to Chauncey and Helen Pegg and older brother, Curtis.
His family moved to Arkansas City, Kan., and then to Douglas, Kan., eventually settling in Scranton, Iowa, where Ed graduated from High School in 1963.
He discovered his lifelong sweetheart in Jefferson car-hopping at the A&W. They were married March 5, 1966, and transferred to JAX Naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., for three years.
Then he was stationed on the USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam.
Ed returned to his wife and new daughter after the service. Years later a son was added to their family, having settled in Fremont, Iowa.
In 1969 Ed started working for IA Machinery in Des Moines (now MH Equipment) as a field service technician, repairing and maintaining lift trucks.
In 1989 he moved the family to Adel.
After retirement in 2011, he was hired as a safety trainer, completing over 45 years of employment with the same company. Ed was actively engaged in the Fremont community as a volunteer firefighter.
He served as a deacon at the Church of Christ in Oskaloosa.
After the death of his best buddy, he filled in the role of minister at a small Grinnell church for two years.
He was an assistant coach for his son’s baseball teams. He was an attendee when possible at all his children’s baseball and football games, 4-H events, plays, band and choir concerts and music recitals.
Ed enjoyed Harley bike trips with Connie and his friends, turkey and deer hunting, fishing, traveling and acting as tour guide for his non-appreciative family (cows on the hill).
He enjoyed woodworking and was the quintessential handyman.
Ed loved to play golf with his son, father-in-law, brother, sister-in-law and her sister.
He liked to read his Bible and Louis L’Amour Western books, watch John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Star Wars movies, make homemade ice cream and spend time with his family and friends.
He had many surrogate grandkids, including nephews, nieces and friends’ children.
He loved God, his family and friends, and he loved his Country. Ed was a well-respected man who was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Ed is survived by his wife, Connie, of Jefferson; son, Matthew (Ann) Pegg of San Angelo, Texas; and daughter, Kimberly (Troy) Pegg-Zeleznik of West Des Moines.
