Edward ‘Eddie’ Whalen, 90

Jan. 19, 1928 —

July 24, 2018

 

Canton, Minn. - Edward “Eddie” Whalen, age 90 of Canton died Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at his home.

Funeral services were held on July 27, 2018 at St. Agnes Plymouth Rock Catholic Church with Fr. Donald J. Hawes officiating.  Burial was in St. Agnes Cemetery with military rites by the Harmony American Legion. 

Eddie was born on Jan. 19, 1928 on the family farm in Winneshiek County, Iowa to Paul Sr. and Myrtle (Roche) Whalen. He graduated from Canton High School in 1946 and served in the United States Navy from November 1948-1952. He worked for a short time as a tinsmith in Rochester, Minn. 

Eddie was married to Leona Frana in 1950. Four children were born to this union. They later divorced. He worked on the family farm until 1995, when he began operating the Villager Drive-In in Canton, where he enjoyed cooking and visiting with the customers, until retiring in 2012. 

Eddie was a member of the American Legion in Harmony, Minn. and the Winneshiek County NFO. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, dancing and especially spending time with his family.

Eddie is survived by special friend, Sandy Frank of Canton; children, Danny of Canton, Kevin (Della) of Decorah, Iowa, Randy (Elaine St. Mary) of Lime Springs, Iowa and Brenda (Allen C.) Holthaus of Cresco, Iowa; stepdaughter, Elaine (Jeff) Geottel; grandchildren, Adam Whalen, Richard Hollenbeck, Rusty Whalen, Erika Whalen, Cassidy Whalen, Mikel Hansen, Rachel Vsetecka, Sarah Halweg, Devin Holthaus, Carter, Olivia, and Wyatt St. Mary, Patrick, Aislinn, Gabriel, and Eireann Geottel; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, LaVerne (Neldah) Whalen of Rochester; sister-in-law, Shirley Whalen of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Joan Whalen; grandson, Mark Whalen; great-grandson, Bryson Holthaus; and brothers and sisters, Harold, Quintin, Paul, Delone, Joe, Larry, Louis and Lucy Whalen.