Obituary of Edward B. Donovan

Funeral services for Mr. Edward Donovan, 94 of Spirit Lake will be held Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Interment will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery, Spirit Lake. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Edward's name. Born May 26, 1923 to Edward Braun Donovan and Charlotta Augusta (Bowen) Donovan in Spirit Lake, IA. He was the youngest of 11 children. He grew up in Spirit Lake and graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1941. He was an All Conference and All State football player. Though offered scholarships to college, he chose to join his best friend, Burton Newell, working at McDonald Douglas Aircraft's WWII Defense Plant in California. He quickly achieved a promotion to be in charge of his shift's work in the plating department. Also in the summer of 1942, he met the girl he married, Vergene Bleeker. They bumped into each other on a street in CA. She was from Spencer, IA; he was from Spirit Lake. It was love at first sight…they got acquainted at a drug store soda fountain…and were married on August 24, 1942 at the Lutheran Church on 10th & Linden in Long Beach, CA. On August 24, 2017, they celebrated 75 years of marriage. Edward joined the U.S. Armed Service January 15, 1943. He was a Staff Sergeant 8th Air Force - European Theater of Operations. He was in charge of a ground crew bomb squad with 29 men. They loaded 8 missions on D-Day. His father taught him mechanics, watch & clock repairs - and how to be a good husband and father. In 1949 Edward went to work for Berkley & Co. in Spirit Lake. He built, bought and/or assembled all of the equipment for the company. He was VP of Operations. He opened plants for the company in Canada, Taiwan, California, Emmetsburg & Spirit Lake, IA. He mentored, trained and placed the managers for the plants. When Union organizers showed up to enter the company, the employees voted "No", not as long as Edward was their boss. Edward developed Trilene fishing line. He bought the company's nylon recycling equipment in Israel. Governor Branstad presented him with the Certificate for Iowa's Outstanding Company of the Year in 1987. When he retired in 1987, he mentored the people that took his place. Berkley & Co. meant a lot to him. Even after his retirement, Berkley & Co. employees considered him their friend & boss. Whenever he was out and about, someone would call out "Hi Ed!" Edward was Community minded. He was a Kiwanian. He was Chairman of Voters at Immanuel Lutheran Church & Co Chair of the Building Committee when the church on Hwy. 71 South was built in 1964/1965. He worked on the design and the construction of the new building. He was a family man - He loved his parents, sisters and brothers. Most of all, he loved his wife and children. He attended all of their church and school activities. He was proud of their achievements. He enjoyed going hunting and playing golf with his sons and friends. And he loved the family vacations. Edward and Vergene travelled the world. And they were very active in Republican politics at the Local, State and National levels. He looked forward to going to Heaven - and on September 12, 2017, succumbed to a lingering illness that he endured with patience and loving care. Edward is survived by his wife of 75 years, Vergene; his son Edward G Donovan & wife Susan, son Jim Donovan & wife Char, daughter DeEtte Bryant, & son Scott Donovan; 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, all of his brothers and sisters, and his son-in-law, Tim Bryant.