Obituary of Edward Nicholas Ungs

Edward N. Ungs, 78, of Luxemburg, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque from complications after a fall and surgery. Friends may call from 1 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a scripture service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Military honors by American Legion Post 137 will be recited at 7 p.m. Friends may also call on Wednesday from 8:30 - 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 at Holy Trinity Church in Luxemburg. Officiating will be the Rev. Raymond Burkle with Rev. Phil Kruse concelebrating and delivering the homily. Burial will be in the parish cemetery immediately following, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Surviving Ed is his wife of 56 years, Julie; his six children: Mary (Jens) Sogaard of Dyersville, Mike (Rhonda Klein) of Luxemburg, Susi (Randy) Jaeger of Swisher, Shari (John) Greenwood of Peosta, Steve (Jill Kluesner) of Cedar Rapids and Shelly (Jack) Harkins of Portage, Wisconsin; his 19 grandchildren: Katrina (special friend Joel Anderson,) Christian and Kirsten Sogaard; Abby (Jeremy) Petsche, Leah, Anna and Chloe Ungs; Nicholas (Jeanne,) Melissa and Kimberly Jaeger; Sara (fiancé Wes Vorwald,) Megan, Brian and Lisa Greenwood; Samantha and Alison Ungs; and Sam and Lilly Harkins; his 3 great-grandchildren: Hannah and Nolan Petsche, and Madelyn Jaeger-Toyne; his sister, Shirley Hackett of Naperville, Illinois and sister-in-law Joanne Ungs of Cedar Rapids; and many other brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Rachel Ungs; and his brother, Herb. Ed was born on October 19, 1931 in Luxemburg, the son of Edward and Rita (Lueken) Ungs. He attended Holy Trinity School in Luxemburg until the tenth grade, finishing high school at Loras Academy in Dubuque. Ed graduated from Loras College in Business Administration/Accounting after commuting to college so he could also help in the family business, Ungs and Steffen General Store in Luxemburg. He married Julianna E. Maiers of Luxemburg on June 4, 1953 just after graduating, and they together moved to Ft. Knox, Kentucky where Ed served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Ed returned after service to work with his father at the store, eventually purchasing the business with Julie and running Ungs Shopping Center for 50 years. He also served the community as U. S. Postmaster in Luxemburg for 36 years, and has been a lifelong member of the American Legion. Ed was past president of the Iowa Retail Hardware Association and a member many years of the Luxembourg-American Cultural Society. Ed loved the outdoors and excelled from youth as a hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed his many fishing trips with family and friends, especially the times he went north to Minnesota and Canada. He and Julie spent many good times on the dance floor and with friends - his prized bar area in the basement was a special gathering spot for friends from all over the world. A special time was when the country of Luxembourg, the home of his ancestors, gifted his home town with a mile marker honoring the U.S. aid during WWII. Ed helped coordinate that, and was the "keeper of the flame" of the Ungs family history, another great passion he held. All who knew Ed thought of him as generous, sweet natured and kind, with a good sense of humor that he kept through his challenges with Alzheimer's in his later years. Ed especially was proud of his children, with son Mike and his wife Rhonda continuing the ownership of the family business, and of his close bond with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought him wonderful joy through his years. Memorials are preferred to Holy Trinity School Building Fund in Luxemburg and to the Alzheimer's Association. Information is available and condolences are accepted at www.kramerfuneralhome.com