Frentress, Edward Delebrt

Edward Delbert Frentress, 80, of Dubuque, died Sunday evening, Sept. 11, 2011, with his family by his side at Dubuque's Mercy Medical Center following complications from heart surgery. Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester. The Rev. John Flaherty will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Manchester. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hoffmann-Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Rd., Dubuque, where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Friends may also call beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Edward was born June 14, 1931, in Manchester, the eldest son of Roy and Katherine (Malone) Frentress. He graduated from Manchester High School, where sports were his passion. He worked for Illinois Central Gulf Railroad as bridge foreman for 39 years.

Ed was united in marriage on April 25, 1953 to Joan Marie Monaghan. Joan and Ed celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary last April. In June, they celebrated Ed's 80th birthday with a surprise party at his home in Dubuque.

Ed was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church. His wife was the center of his life. He loved spending time with his six children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His favorite pastimes included woodworking, driving his 1966 Classic Mustang, reading and watching old Westerns, the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Joan of Dubuque; five children, Edward J. (Jerilyn) Frentress of Fayetteville, Ark., Daniel (Deb) Frentress of Park Rapids, Minn., Julie (Gary) Connolly of Placid, David (Peggy) Frentress of Dyersville, and Brenda (Pat) Krapfl of Rogers, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Suzanne Frentress, Michael T. Frentress, Katie (Tad) Wilkey, Michael J. Frentress, Richard Frentress, Kari, J.J., and Alicia Connolly, Jennifer and Nicole Krapfl, and Jason Frentress; two great-grandchildren, Mikayla Frentress and Charlotte Wilkey; his brother, Al (Darla) Frentress of Earlville; his sisters-in-law, Roberta Coleman of Coggon, and Aggie Frentress of Des Moines; his brothers-in-law, Bill Monaghan of Earlville, and Jerry (Lois) Chettinger of Cherokee; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Tom Frentress; his parents; his brother, Ron Frentress of Des Moines; his sister, Kay Chettinger of Cherokee; and his brothers-in-law, Dale Coleman and Paul Monaghan.

Memorials may be made to the Frentress Homestead Foundation, East Dubuque City Hall, c/o Chuck Splinter, 185 Wisconsin Ave., East Dubuque, IL 61025.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the ICU staff of Mercy Medical Center for the care given to Ed during his stay.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Published in The Gazette Sept. 13, 2011.