Edgar W. McCracken

Edgar W. McCracken, 95, of Sioux City died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Military rites will be performed by the U.S. Army Reserves at the church. Burial will be at a later date in Nishnabotna Township Cemetery at Manilla, Iowa. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 6 p.m., at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Edgar was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Manilla, Iowa, to Harry and Bessie (Saunders) McCracken. He graduated from Manilla High School in 1931, and from Morningside College in 1938. After graduating from Morningside College, Edgar was employed by Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. in Springfield, Mass. He entered the U.S. Army on Feb. 11, 1941, and graduated from infantry school in Fort Benning, Ga., in November 1942, as a second lieutenant. He served in the 95th Infantry Division from November 1942 to October 1945.

He married Helen Pearson on July 17, 1945, in Cleghorn, Iowa. Helen died Aug. 14, 2000. Edgar re-entered the insurance business in Sioux City in 1946. He was hired as branch manager for Union Central Life Insurance Co. in July 1957. He served there until his retirement in 1979. While in the life insurance business, Edgar attained the designation of Chartered Life Underwriter. He served as president of the Sioux City Life Underwriters Association, the Sioux City Chapter of CLU and the Sioux City Chapter of General Agents and Managers Association.

Edgar was a member of First United Methodist Church and was a former member of the Trustees and Administrative Board. He was a charter member of the Sertoma Club and had also served as president. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Lodge in Manilla, the Sioux City Consistory and the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple as well as being an active member of the Siouxland Senior Center. He served on the Sioux City Board of Education for 12 years and on the Board of Trustees of Morningside College for nine years. He was a former president of the Alumni Board of Morningside College.

Since retirement, Edgar spent the winters at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs, Fla., and was active in numerous activities. He had a very special friend, Ruth Curtis, who also winters in Citrus Park with a permanent home in Cokeysville, Md.

Survivors include three daughters, Margie Morrell of Melbourne, Fla., Barbara Jones of Euless, Texas, and Carol Sitzmann and her husband, Gary of Sioux City; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Kyle and Kelly Morrell, Jennie and Jon Jones, Reta and J.J. Sitzmann; and four great-grandchildren, Mason, Jack, Tye and Kyrie Morrell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen; an infant son; a brother, Murro McCracken; a sister, Marjorie Martens; a son-in-law, Jimmey Morrell; and a great-grandson, Eli Morrell.

Memorials may be made in his name to Morningside College or First United Methodist Church.