Edward William Mahoney, 73, of Council Grove, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 22, 2015 at Morris County Hospital.
He was born July 14, 1941 in Wichita, KS, to Paul Patrick and Agnes Estelle (Strecker) Mahoney.
Edward lived a full and adventurous life. His humble start was in the Des Moines one room school taught by his mother and later graduated from Council Grove High School as class president and salutatorian. He attended Kansas State University with a track and field scholarship where he competed in the mile race. While at the university, he enlisted with the United State Air Force and earned the rank of Captain. He served in two tours of Vietnam and was stationed in several US bases including Alaska and Philippines. Early in his sixteen year military career, navigating C130 airplanes, he was introduced to his future wife Judy E. Parsons by his sister Patsy Mahoney. Ed and Judy had two children Patrick and Kathleen. When he finished his duties with the military, he took over the family dairy farm in Council Grove and built the herd to over one hundred cows and ran it for the next twenty three years before retiring. His quick wit and can-do attitude opened the doors to several adventures that he loved to share through stories. He valued honesty, hard work and compassion. He enjoyed caring for animals, keeping a large garden, and sitting by the fireplace watching sports. Most of all he greatly loved his family and valued them dearly.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Judy, of the home; children, Patrick Mahoney & wife Candace, of Salina, KS and Kathleen Nafus, of Leuven, Belgium; and grandchildren, Kathryn, Phillip, Cherilyn, Mellisa, and Aidan; brothers, James Mahoney & wife Patricia, of Topeka, Ronald Mahoney & wife Sylinda, of Derby, William Mahoney, of Council Grove; and sisters, Patricia Schumacher & husband Robert, of Creighton, MO and Mary Hixson & husband David, of Jefferson City, SD.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church, sent in care of Penwell-Gabel, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.