Edward J. Flander
Edward J. Flander
Milton, Iowa. Edward J. Flander, 95, of Milton, Iowa, and formerly of the What Cheer area, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at the Bloomfield Care Center in Bloomfield, Iowa. He was born December 9, 1916, at Harper, Iowa, the son of John R. and Irene Conrad Flander. Early on he worked on the family farm and helped his family get through the great depression. He went to work doing construction for his brother in law in Des Moines and later in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On December 20, 1938, he was united in marriage to Mabel Luella Free in Des Moines, Mabel died on December 20, 1979. In the early 1940’s he moved to the Eddyville area and began farming. In 1946 he moved to the Indianapolis area to farm. In the 1950’s he went back to doing carpentry work in Des Moines. In 1964, he went back to farming full time. On June 30, 1980, he was united in marriage to Betty Harris at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. He retired from farming in the mid 1980’s. He moved to Milton in 1993. At his home in Milton, he set up a woodworking shop, where he enjoyed making swings and crafts. He also enjoyed working in the yard and gardening.
His family includes his wife Betty Flander of Milton; seven children, Rosemary (Ken) Kelso of Emporia, Kansas, Donald (Wilma) Flander of What Cheer, Lorna Flander of Beacon, Jim Flander of Pleasantville, Luella (“Lou”Krusemark)(Larry) Albers of Van Horne, Iowa, Richard (Sue) Flander of Tracy, Iowa, and Gina (Bill) Smith of What Cheer; two stepsons; 17 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; a brother, Cecil Flander of Montezuma; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson: Brian McCurdy; two sisters: Bernadine Koval and Lucile Riley; three brothers, Myron, Robert, and Leonard Flander.
Funeral services for Ed Flander will be held Monday, March 26, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Joanne Schlegel officiating. Burial will be in the Indianapolis Cemetery near What Cheer. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Sunday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral home from 1-3 p.m. Sunday to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Ed Flander Memorial Fund.
