Edgar "Ed" Fielder

1926 - 2021

Edgar Eugene (Ed) Fielder, 95, of Greeley, Colorado died peacefully in his sleep on May 18th, 2021, at Grace Pointe Senior Care Community in Greeley. He was born at home to Charles M. and Marie V. (Rogers) Fielder on April 13, 1926, outside of Gage, Oklahoma. Ed grew up in rural western Oklahoma spending his childhood on various farms where his dad was a farmer/renter. Education always played a key role in his life. He attended country and town schools, graduating from Arnett High School in 1944. He began teaching at a one-room schoolhouse, called Packsaddle Elementary in Ellis County. He had a temporary teaching certificate so continued to attend Northwestern State University. In the summers he helped his dad on the farm. He was inducted into the Army in 1947 and spent a year in Kyoto, Japan. He returned home in 1948 and once again became a university student. There he met Jane McMannis. They were married at the McMannis home, in 1950 spending much of their honeymoon taking care of a dairy farm. They moved to Derby, Kansas where they lived with their 4 children: Rhonda, Russel, Renee, and Robin. Ed continued his educational career as an Elementary Principal and Curriculum Coordinator for the Derby Public Schools. After completing his Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Education at Colorado State College (UNC) he accepted a four-year position at the Institute of Education and Research moving his family halfway around the world to live in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This allowed him and the family travel experiences to many exotic locales giving them all a taste for travel. After working on this joint USAID and CSC project he returned to the University of Northern Colorado to complete 38 years in the field of education supervising and training student teachers and interns. Ed loved to share food, stories, faith and travel with family and friends. No matter how big the crowd, his laugh could be heard above it all. He had a passion for many activities including Barbershop Chorus, traveling overseas as well as in the US. His love of the land and nature tied him closely to the family farm in Oklahoma. He treasured all the time spent with his grandchildren from early childcare, participation in their school programs and encouragement as they continued to grow and pursue higher education. He was active into his 90's traveling by camper through the Southwestern US, riding the exercise bike 45 minutes a day and listening to several audio books each week. Ed treasured his marriage to Jane and membership in the First United Methodist Church where he served in many leadership positions as well as singing in the choir. Ed said, "I always take the time to be interrupted by God!" During retirement he spent much of his time serving others volunteering in numerous professional, service and church related organizations. These included United Way, Good Samaritan Society-Bonell Community, Golden K Kiwanis, Kersey Key Club, UNC Emeriti Association, Weld County Retired Teachers Association, the Weld County Elderly Violence Prevention Programs, Lay Leader and Lay Speaker at FUMC and Greeley Weld Senior Foundation Board of Directors. He is survived by his children, Rhonda (Jim) Long, Becky Renee Fielder (Paul Wigton), and Robin (Jim) Veraldi: grandchildren Katie and Nick Veraldi; and stepbrother Johnny Fielder. Ed was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Etta (Jane) Fielder his son, Russel Don Fielder, his brother Charles (Earl) Fielder, his half-brother Mirl Fielder, his sister June Sober and infants Dale, and Darlene Fielder. A Celebration of Life for Ed will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2021,at 2:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Greeley. A Memorial Service will be held at the Arnett United Methodist Church on September 4, 2021, at 10:30 am with interment at DeBolt Cemetery in Arnett, Oklahoma. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church in, Greeley, Colorado. To leave condolences for Ed Fielder's family, please visit www.Ncccremation.com