Dr. Jack C. Edling, PhD, 85, passed away peacefully in Newton, Iowa, on Friday, March 5, 2010, from natural causes, surrounded by his friends and family.
The only child born to Louis and Reta (Shaw) Edling on Sept. 8, 1924, in Unionville, Mo., Jack grew up in Newton, and returned there in his later years. He and Mardell (Ries) Edling raised four children before her death in 1982. Jack is survived by his current wife, Ethlyne.
He graduated from Drake University in 1948, and received his master of arts from the College of St. Thomas in 1970, receiving his honorary doctorate in 1984. Jack served honorably as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946 in Europe before beginning a distinguished career in the field of education.
From his first job as a high school teacher and coach in Leon, Iowa, in 1948, he moved on to teach and coach throughout Iowa and Minnesota and was promoted to serve as principal and superintendent. Well into his retirement, he stayed involved as an educational consultant.
He was an outstanding three-sport high school and collegiate athlete. He played semi-professional basketball after college. His love of basketball never faded and if there was a Hawkeye game, he would likely be there. He remained a lifelong golfer and passed his love of the game on to his boys and grandchildren.
Jack is survived by his wife, Ethlyne, of Newton; children: daughter, Cathy Dodge, of Geneva, Ill., daughter-in-law, Cheryl Edling of Geneva, Ill., son, Michael Edling, of Rochester, and son and daughter-in-law, Lt. Col Christopher and Retta Edling, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren: Andrew and Leah Dodge of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Lindsey Edling of Chicago, Ill., Matthew Dodge of Milwaukee, Wis., Kelsie Edling of Chicago, Ill., Zachery and Nelson Edling of Rochester, Hunter and Christopher Edling of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and great-grandchild, Emma Dodge, of Glen Ellyn.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mardell Edling; his son, Jack Edling; and son-in-law, Jim Dodge.
Visitation for Jack will be at Bonnerup Funeral Service on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. A visitation will be one hour before the service at the church with the family. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at St. Theodore Catholic Church preceding interment at St. Theodore Cemetery.
Donations can be made “in memory of Jack Edling” to the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, 600 S. Paulina, Room 1026A, Chicago, IL, 60612.