Edward Leo McWeeny

1944 - 2024

Edward Leo McWeeny

February 23, 1944 - August 10, 2024

Edward Leo McWeeny, most recently of Gowrie, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Bickford Cottage in Fort Dodge, at the age of 80.

A visitation will be 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on the same day at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment will occur at 2:30 p.m. the same day at Lost Grove Township Cemetery, with military rites provided by the American Legion Peterson Post #431 of Gowrie. Laufersweiler Palmer Funeral Home is serving the family.

Ed was born in Carroll, Iowa on February 23, 1944, to Leo and Maxine (Wolf) McWeeny, as the second of seven siblings. The family moved to a dairy farm near Ute, Iowa, where Ed spent the rest of his childhood. Ed received his early education in the Charter Oak-Ute School District and gained a strong foundation in faith at Saint Boniface Catholic Church in Charter Oak. After graduating from high school, Ed enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he worked as a ground crew chief on B-52 bombers. At the end of his enlistment, Ed enrolled in classes at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, where he met his future wife. Later, Ed transferred to Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business.

Ed was united in marriage to Caryl Larson at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Moorland, Iowa on June 19, 1971. The young couple lived in various small towns in north-central Iowa before settling on the Larson family farm that Caryl grew up on north of Gowrie. As they raised their five children, Ed tended livestock on the farm and was employed as a loan officer with First State Bank and Heartland Bank of Gowrie for many years. The couple later retired to a home in the town of Gowrie, where Ed lived until his health declined.

Ed loved his God, his country, his community, and his family; he dedicated his life to the service of each of these. He was a devout Catholic who had a deep and abiding faith. He was proud to have served his country in the Air Force and counted it as an important formative experience. He valued a strong and resilient local community; over the years, he participated in numerous community betterment groups and initiatives in the city of Gowrie, sometimes serving in leadership roles. He was the rock of his family and instilled in his children the values of service, education, hard work, self-reliance, determination, and perseverance. He deeply loved his parents, his siblings, his children, his grandchildren, and especially his wife of 53 years.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; sister JoAnn Wand; brothers-in-law Jay Wand, Jim Braunger, and Bruce Smith; and grandson Nathan Edwards. He is survived by his wife Caryl McWeeny of Gowrie; children David (Kerri) McWeeny of San Diego, California, Gary (Joan) Edwards of Glen Allen, Virginia, Julie (Michael) Miller of Polk City, Iowa, Mary (Andrew) Potter of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Dennis McWeeny of Washington, DC; siblings Patricia Braunger of Coralville, Iowa, Helen (John) Dowling of Flemington, New Jersey, Mary Lee (Kelly) Clarke of Elk Horn, Nebraska, Oliva Smith of West Liberty, Iowa, and Jim McWeeny (Sara Sommerlot) of West Des Moines, Iowa; and grandchildren Bradley McWeeny, Ryan McWeeny, Adam Edwards, Stephen Edwards, Luke Miller, Kayla Potter, Colin Potter, and Drew Potter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to Holy Trinity Church or American Legion Peterson Post #431.