Edward L. Hutchcroft, age 87, of Washington, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a sudden illness.
Celebration of life services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Jim Stiles officiating. Military honors will be accorded following the funeral service Friday morning at the United Methodist Church. General calling hours will be held from noon until 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home and the family will be present to receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church.. Interment will take place 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Kossuth Cemetery in rural Mediapolis, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the United Methodist Church or Halcyon House. Online condolences may be sent for Ed's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .
Edward was born August 29, 1925 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Lewis and Cora (Tee) Hutchcroft. He graduated from Mediapolis High School and from the University of Northern Iowa where he received his Bachelors Degree. Edward received his Masters Degree and did graduate work at the University of Iowa. On May 30, 1948 he was united in marriage to Joan Jones in Burlington, Iowa. Edward was a devoted and loving husband for 60 years.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army in the European Theater where he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Ardennes Forest and the Battle of Central Germany.
Edward began his teaching career in Barnes City, Iowa, where he taught high school math and coached girls basketball. He later taught high school at Kalona and Washington, Iowa. He was Principal of Lincoln Elementary and later served as Assistant Superintendent in Washington, Iowa. He was Superintendent of Schools in West Branch and Bloomfield, Iowa for 21 years until his retirement.
As a young teenager, Edward went forward at his church in Mediapolis and gave his heart and life to Jesus. He devoted his entire life to loving God, and loving and caring for others. He was a member of the Bloomfield and Washington Disciples of Christ Churches for 44 years where he served as an Elder and taught adult Sunday school for over 50 years. He was a member of the United Methodist Churches in Mediapolis, West Branch and Washington, Iowa.
Edward is survived by his son, David Hutchcroft and wife Linda of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; daughter, Diana Anderson and husband Michael of Robins, Iowa; daughter Judith Abbott of Fairview Heights, Illinois; six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Edward was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joan in 2008, two brothers, Cecil and Roy; and two sisters, Evelyn Mowrey and Mabel Davis.