Obituary of Edward W. Poggenpohl

Edward (Pondy) William Poggenpohl of Iowa City (formally of McCausland) passed away peacefully on February 3, 2014 surrounded by his wife and family. Funeral services will be held at 1pm Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery where Military Honors will be provided. Visitation will be from 11am Saturday until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Edward's memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. A complete obituary can be viewed on the funeral home website. He was born on Dec, 15, 1923 to William and Tilly (Sietz) Poggenpohl of Iowa City, IA. He departed from his loving family to join our heavenly father leaving behind his dear and devoted wife, Yvonne (Bonnie) and 13 of his 15 children: Jeannie (Donald) Stoddard; William (Bill) (Cathy) Poggenpohl; Alan Poggenpohl; Georga (Larry) Cullison; Craig (Lisa) Poggenpohl; Linda Haessler; Pam (Darrell) Morton; Tressa Mann; Robin S. Poggenpohl; Anna (Duayne) Haessler; Danna (Kevin) Hartz; George (Butch) (Christy) Poggenpohl; Reba Suiter; many grandchildren; great grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins; his beloved brother Maynard (Laura) Poggenpohl and also his dog, Snowflake. Edward was very proud of being a United State Marine (1943-1946) and fighting with his Marine Brothers and during this time he was wounded in action but declined the Purple Heart as he said others were more deserving. He was on the beach of Iwo Jima and witnesses the flag as it went up on February 23, 1945. Edward's many fond memories included working the farm as he enjoyed all the hard work, no task was ever to large for him. He was a milkman for many years for Home Town Dairy before becoming an iron worker with Local #89 out of Cedar Rapids, IA for the better part of his life, retiring in 1998. He was proud of being an iron worker and to him they were also his family, not a job. Maybe that's where he decided your word and a hand shake was all you needed. Edward loved being outside and he had many hobbies. Gardening was like an art form to him, picture perfect, no weeds. Every year his tomatoes increased in size, like the "Great Pumpkin". One year he had the biggest tomato ever and one day while he was off working his wife, Bonnie, noticed it hanging. It looked so juicy on the vine, she picked it and oh what a fine sandwich she had. Edward loved fishing, fished for all kinds especially the flat heads, but the bullheads, they made great bait for his bank lines. He loved to go trout fishing and one time he even ventured off to the Great Lakes for "the" big fish on Lake Michigan. Hunting was another of his passions and oh, the rabbits he'd get. He loved trapping and got the nicest pelts you ever saw. There are so many good fishing and hunting stories, one of his proudest days was training his son, Butch, to take over his hobbies. We believe Edward was born with a pole in one hand, a gun in the other and a trap on his foot. Edward was preceded in death by: his parents; two daughters: Bobbie Jo Young and Donna Lou Poggenpohl; a grandson, Lance (Porky) Martin; a brother, Frank; three sisters: Gracie, Margaret, and Leona; his two fishing buddies, Mark J. Bowles and Tom Watkinson. The family would like to thank Hospice for their care and generosity for making Edward so comfortable in his time of need.