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Edwin Hemphill
EDWIN HEMPHILL
Cedar Rapids
Edwin R. Hemphill died Saturday, Oct, 4, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Heather Hayes will officiate at the service. Burial was conducted at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Surviving are his two daughters, Lisa (Dave) Morris and Lori Bobenhouse, both of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Adam (Courtney) Morris, Chris Morris, Andrew Bobenhouse and Sarah Bobenhouse Fairfield (Damon); great-grandson, Oliver Morris; two brothers, Gerald (Joan) Hemphill of North Liberty and David (Shirley) Hemphill of Roland; and several nieces and nephews.
Following the death of his wife, Ed enjoyed the companionship of his close friend, Betty Wagner.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joan in 2009; son-in law, Jim Bobenhouse; sister, Kathleen (Hemphill) White; and brother-in-law, Carroll White.
Edwin Hemphill was born March 30, 1925, in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was the son of Floyd and Mary Polak Hemphill. Ed was a graduate of Marshalltown High School and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. He served his country during World War II in the United States Navy. On Dec. 27, 1946, Ed and Joan Thusen were united in marriage in Marshalltown. Ed was a marketing manager at Rockwell Collins for more than 30 years before retiring in 1981.
Ed was an avid golfer and enjoyed family fishing trips to Minnesota for several decades. Much of his spare time was spent as a community volunteer, doing everything from driving cancer patients to treatment to volunteering for the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and Brucemore.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder. He set an example for others by "paying back" to his community. Foremost, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Memorial donations may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church.
The family would like to thank Dr. Joshua Pruitt, Abbi and the rest of the staff at St. Luke's E.R., as well as the staff and friends at Cottage Grove Place.
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