Edward Morgan

Edward (Ed) Morgan, the eighth child of John and Abbie Morgan, was born Aug. 1, 1935, in Plymouth, Penn. Death came to Ed at his home in Park Centre, 500 First St. N. Apt. 117 in Newton Dec. 28, 2016, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

After graduating from Plymouth High School in 1953, Ed chose the medical field as his life occupation. Ultimately, Ed entered the field of anesthesia, earning his degree as a certified registered nurse anesthetist from Mayo Clinic School of Anesthesia in Rochester, Minn. He also earned a B.A. degree. While training at the Mayo Clinic, Ed met and married Ardis Senjem from Rock Dell, Minn. They celebrated their 59th anniversary Dec. 16. They became the proud parents of Cheryl (Wes) Ver Woert, Diane (Mark) Distler and Jeff (Michele) Morgan.

After graduation from Mayo Clinic, a year was spent in Kentucky, followed by a 10 year stay in Binghamton, N.Y. The family eventually moved to Newton in 1971, to spend the next 35 years as head of the department of anesthesia at Skiff Memorial Hospital. He truly loved his work and the people he worked with all those years.

Ed had a profound love for Jesus. He also loved being with family, making yearly trips back to Pennsylvania, Arizona and Illinois. He truly enjoyed Norwegian Christmas with Ardis’ family in Minnesota. He also enjoyed tennis, jogging, cars, the Iowa Hawkeyes and his Coffee Club friends. These men were great support during his illness.

Ed was very compassionate to those in need, including a mission trip to Haiti and being able to provide 15 cleft palate surgeries for Smile Train.

Those left to honor his memory are his loving wife, Ardis; his children, Cheryl and Wes Ver Woert, Diane and Mark Distler and Jeff and Michele Morgan; his grandchildren Nicole (Scott) Kooiman, Nathan (fiancé Nicole) Ver Woert, Edward (Lindsey) Distler, William Distler, John Morgan and Stephanie Morgan; great-grandchildren, Jacob Kooiman and Regan Kooiman; and many other extended family members and friends.

He was proceeded in death by infant twin sons; his parents; his four brothers, John, Stewart, James and Robert; and three sisters, Sarah Strauser, Lois Owens and Dorothy Jesso.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 at Community Heights Alliance Church, 2500 S. 13th Ave. E. in Newton, with a visitation time with the family at 10 a.m. followed by a celebration of Ed’s life at 11 a.m. and a time of fellowship and refreshments following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Community Heights Alliance Church Benevolent Fund, Wesley Life Hospice, Park Centre Samaritan Fund, Courthouse Christmas Lighting fund or the charity of your choice in Ed’s Name. Blessed be the memory of Ed Morgan.