Ed was born and raised in Holdrege but moved to Kearney in the early 1970's. He graduated with a degree in history from the Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney), served in the Army for two years, the Army Reserve and National Guard for 18 more, and worked for a local utility company for about 20 years before he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma is a horrific disease of unknown cause and no known cure. Still relatively rare, it is increasing at an alarmingly rapid rate, particularly in agricultural and industrial areas of more developed countries such as the United States.
In Ed's case, it took various physicians over a year to diagnose his condition. By that time, he was in horrible pain from a tumor next to his spine. He was barely able to walk and completely unable to work.
Having been divorced for several years, Ed lived alone. He had a girlfriend when he was diagnosed, but she broke off the relationship because of his condition. It broke his heart.
His parents, who were in their mid and late 70's at the time, cooked his meals. They drove him to his physician's office for most medical appointments and to the hospital for most of his treatments.
He first went through chemotherapy to get the disease under control, then radiation to kill the tumor next to his spine. By the time radiation treatments had concluded, four months after diagnosis, Ed could walk again, free of debilitating pain. Everyone, including him, was optimistic that he would be in remission for awhile, possibly even years.
That Sunday, two days after his final radiation treatment, he started having trouble breathing. He mentioned it to his parents, but did not phone his oncologist. He thought she worked hard and deserved an uninterupted weekend.
On Monday morning in the emergency room where his oncologist had sent him for a chest x-ray, Ed collapsed. His heart was re-started three times, but to no avail. A blood clot had traveled to his lungs and ended his life.
Ed was the devoted father of two sons, Benjamin and Brandon, and one daughter, Christa. His youngest son, Benjamin, and his mother, Helen Oleta (Bradshaw), preceded him in death. His paternal grandparents, Laura Alice (Fitch) and Arthur James Polhemus, and his maternal grandparents, Ethel Leta (Bingham) and Bell (not Bill) Bradshaw, also predeceased him.
In addition to his two eldest children, Ed is survived by his father, Gene; step-mother, Soffia; brother, Lee; two sisters, Sandra and Susan; two step-brothers, Karl and Stanley; and two step-sisters, Betty and Anna.
Ed had a host of friends. So many people attended his funeral that seating had to be arranged in a a second room. One of his colleagues summed him up and the way many thought of him in the following Find-a-Grave posting. "...You were a profound influence in my life; your humor, sense of duty and honor; are attributes that will live on in those people that were lucky enough to know you...."
Rest in peace, beloved father, son and brother. We will miss you.
Multiple Myeloma is a horrific disease of unknown cause and no known cure. Still relatively rare, it is increasing at an alarmingly rapid rate, particularly in agricultural and industrial areas of more developed countries such as the United States.
In Ed's case, it took various physicians over a year to diagnose his condition. By that time, he was in horrible pain from a tumor next to his spine. He was barely able to walk and completely unable to work.
Having been divorced for several years, Ed lived alone. He had a girlfriend when he was diagnosed, but she broke off the relationship because of his condition. It broke his heart.
His parents, who were in their mid and late 70's at the time, cooked his meals. They drove him to his physician's office for most medical appointments and to the hospital for most of his treatments.
He first went through chemotherapy to get the disease under control, then radiation to kill the tumor next to his spine. By the time radiation treatments had concluded, four months after diagnosis, Ed could walk again, free of debilitating pain. Everyone, including him, was optimistic that he would be in remission for awhile, possibly even years.
That Sunday, two days after his final radiation treatment, he started having trouble breathing. He mentioned it to his parents, but did not phone his oncologist. He thought she worked hard and deserved an uninterupted weekend.
On Monday morning in the emergency room where his oncologist had sent him for a chest x-ray, Ed collapsed. His heart was re-started three times, but to no avail. A blood clot had traveled to his lungs and ended his life.
Ed was the devoted father of two sons, Benjamin and Brandon, and one daughter, Christa. His youngest son, Benjamin, and his mother, Helen Oleta (Bradshaw), preceded him in death. His paternal grandparents, Laura Alice (Fitch) and Arthur James Polhemus, and his maternal grandparents, Ethel Leta (Bingham) and Bell (not Bill) Bradshaw, also predeceased him.
In addition to his two eldest children, Ed is survived by his father, Gene; step-mother, Soffia; brother, Lee; two sisters, Sandra and Susan; two step-brothers, Karl and Stanley; and two step-sisters, Betty and Anna.
Ed had a host of friends. So many people attended his funeral that seating had to be arranged in a a second room. One of his colleagues summed him up and the way many thought of him in the following Find-a-Grave posting. "...You were a profound influence in my life; your humor, sense of duty and honor; are attributes that will live on in those people that were lucky enough to know you...."
Rest in peace, beloved father, son and brother. We will miss you.
Ed was born and raised in Holdrege but moved to Kearney in the early 1970's. He graduated with a degree in history from the Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney), served in the Army for two years, the Army Reserve and National Guard for 18 more, and worked for a local utility company for about 20 years before he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma is a horrific disease of unknown cause and no known cure. Still relatively rare, it is increasing at an alarmingly rapid rate, particularly in agricultural and industrial areas of more developed countries such as the United States.
In Ed's case, it took various physicians over a year to diagnose his condition. By that time, he was in horrible pain from a tumor next to his spine. He was barely able to walk and completely unable to work.
Having been divorced for several years, Ed lived alone. He had a girlfriend when he was diagnosed, but she broke off the relationship because of his condition. It broke his heart.
His parents, who were in their mid and late 70's at the time, cooked his meals. They drove him to his physician's office for most medical appointments and to the hospital for most of his treatments.
He first went through chemotherapy to get the disease under control, then radiation to kill the tumor next to his spine. By the time radiation treatments had concluded, four months after diagnosis, Ed could walk again, free of debilitating pain. Everyone, including him, was optimistic that he would be in remission for awhile, possibly even years.
That Sunday, two days after his final radiation treatment, he started having trouble breathing. He mentioned it to his parents, but did not phone his oncologist. He thought she worked hard and deserved an uninterupted weekend.
On Monday morning in the emergency room where his oncologist had sent him for a chest x-ray, Ed collapsed. His heart was re-started three times, but to no avail. A blood clot had traveled to his lungs and ended his life.
Ed was the devoted father of two sons, Benjamin and Brandon, and one daughter, Christa. His youngest son, Benjamin, and his mother, Helen Oleta (Bradshaw), preceded him in death. His paternal grandparents, Laura Alice (Fitch) and Arthur James Polhemus, and his maternal grandparents, Ethel Leta (Bingham) and Bell (not Bill) Bradshaw, also predeceased him.
In addition to his two eldest children, Ed is survived by his father, Gene; step-mother, Soffia; brother, Lee; two sisters, Sandra and Susan; two step-brothers, Karl and Stanley; and two step-sisters, Betty and Anna.
Ed had a host of friends. So many people attended his funeral that seating had to be arranged in a a second room. One of his colleagues summed him up and the way many thought of him in the following Find-a-Grave posting. "...You were a profound influence in my life; your humor, sense of duty and honor; are attributes that will live on in those people that were lucky enough to know you...."
Rest in peace, beloved father, son and brother. We will miss you.
Multiple Myeloma is a horrific disease of unknown cause and no known cure. Still relatively rare, it is increasing at an alarmingly rapid rate, particularly in agricultural and industrial areas of more developed countries such as the United States.
In Ed's case, it took various physicians over a year to diagnose his condition. By that time, he was in horrible pain from a tumor next to his spine. He was barely able to walk and completely unable to work.
Having been divorced for several years, Ed lived alone. He had a girlfriend when he was diagnosed, but she broke off the relationship because of his condition. It broke his heart.
His parents, who were in their mid and late 70's at the time, cooked his meals. They drove him to his physician's office for most medical appointments and to the hospital for most of his treatments.
He first went through chemotherapy to get the disease under control, then radiation to kill the tumor next to his spine. By the time radiation treatments had concluded, four months after diagnosis, Ed could walk again, free of debilitating pain. Everyone, including him, was optimistic that he would be in remission for awhile, possibly even years.
That Sunday, two days after his final radiation treatment, he started having trouble breathing. He mentioned it to his parents, but did not phone his oncologist. He thought she worked hard and deserved an uninterupted weekend.
On Monday morning in the emergency room where his oncologist had sent him for a chest x-ray, Ed collapsed. His heart was re-started three times, but to no avail. A blood clot had traveled to his lungs and ended his life.
Ed was the devoted father of two sons, Benjamin and Brandon, and one daughter, Christa. His youngest son, Benjamin, and his mother, Helen Oleta (Bradshaw), preceded him in death. His paternal grandparents, Laura Alice (Fitch) and Arthur James Polhemus, and his maternal grandparents, Ethel Leta (Bingham) and Bell (not Bill) Bradshaw, also predeceased him.
In addition to his two eldest children, Ed is survived by his father, Gene; step-mother, Soffia; brother, Lee; two sisters, Sandra and Susan; two step-brothers, Karl and Stanley; and two step-sisters, Betty and Anna.
Ed had a host of friends. So many people attended his funeral that seating had to be arranged in a a second room. One of his colleagues summed him up and the way many thought of him in the following Find-a-Grave posting. "...You were a profound influence in my life; your humor, sense of duty and honor; are attributes that will live on in those people that were lucky enough to know you...."
Rest in peace, beloved father, son and brother. We will miss you.
