Edmund Mechavich Obituary

Edmund Frank Mechavich

Memorial service for Edmund Frank Mechavich will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial with military honors in Oak Hill Cemetery directly following the service. The family will greet friends for 30 minutes prior to the service at Warren-McElwain Mortuary and after burial. Edmund Frank Mechavich was born to Dames and Theresa (Binczik) Mechavich on June 4,1923 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He loved to tell stories of his years growing up in St. Cloud; swimming in the quarries and the Mississippi River, ice skating and playing hockey in Seburger Park with his brothers, Raymond and Clemence and his sister, Helen. He attended St. John Cantius Catholic School and Technical High School. He entered the United States Army in 1943. It was during his training at Fort Breckenridge, Kentucky that, on a blind date, he met his future wife, Betty Day from Lawrence, Kansas who was visiting her cousin.

World War II sent him to the European Theater. He was a proud member of the 75th Division, 730 Field Artillery Battalion, Battery C. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, The Colmar Pocket Battle and The Battle for the Ruhr. After the war he returned to St. Cloud and worked at Dezurik Industries and began to build his home for his bride, Betty. On June 26,1948 Edmund and Betty were married in St. Cloud, Minnesota at St. John Cantius Church. He was called to return to the services of the Army to train troops for the Korean War.

Ed and Betty moved to her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas in 1954. Ed worked for Kansas Power and Light Company from 1955 to 1987 when he retired. He was a member of the Kansas Army Reserve in Lawrence. In 1983 he retired as a First Sergeant from the 317th S &S BN at the Lawrence, Kansas Army Reserve after serving his country for 40 years. Edmund was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 852 in Lawrence, and the Lawrence American Legion.

After Ed and Betty retired they moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where Betty sold real estate and Ed created stained glass art and was a custodian at his church. They spent 20 years in Bella Vista before moving back to Lawrence in 2006. Ed was an artist of stained glass and he was a master carpenter. He built two homes and many other projects. He played the guitar and had a deep, rich singing voice, which he used liberally, when the urge to sing came upon him.

Edmund was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Betty Jane (Day) Mechavich Betty was bom to Earnest and Millie (Snapp) Day on April 17,1925. She was bom and raised in North Lawrence. She attended Woodlawn Grade School and was a 1943 graduate of Liberty Memorial High School. Betty was Chief Estimator for The Lawrence Paper Company from 1955 until her retirement in 1987. Betty died July 23,2013.

Edmund was also preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond and Clemence, and his sister Helen (Mechavich) Nahan. Ed is survived by his daughter, Nancy Landis and her husband Armin Landis, Grandson, Aaron Landis and his wife Taylor, and his brother-in- law James Nahan of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Memorials in Edmund's name can be made to Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora or The Poor Clare Monastery of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota in care of the funeral home.

The family is grateful for the excellent and tender care, good humor and attention given to Edmund by the entire staff at Eudora Medicalodges.

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