Z. Edward Simkin

Z. Edward Simkin, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, November 21, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 25, 2007, from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. at Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 26, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Jeff "Duke" Crawford officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Mt. Pleasant Booster Club, Calvary Baptist Church or Midwest Old Threshers Foundation. Born June 15, 1924, Zachary Edward Simkin was the son of Guy and Alice Blanche Doan Simkin. He received his early education in rural schools and later graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1943. On March 3, 1946, Ed married Nadine Kudobe in Mt. Pleasant. She preceded him in death on April 27, 1984. Ed lived and farmed on the same farm southwest of Mt. Pleasant all of his life. He partnered with his wife in the Simkin Camper Sales business for many years, retiring in 1999. Ed was a member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and later attended Oakland Mills Community Church. For the past several years, he has attended Calvary Baptist Church. Ed was an active volunteer at Midwest Old Threshers for many years and especially enjoyed assisting with school tours. He received the Old Thresher of the Year Award in 2001. Mr. Simkin was a diligent supporter of the Mt Pleasant Goal Line, now known as the Mt. Pleasant Booster Club, and was named Grand Marshall of the 2006 Homecoming Parade. Survivors include two daughters, Judy and her husband Donald Miller of Burlington, IA, and Connie Conner of Burlington, IA. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Mr. Simkin was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine, parents, and three sisters, Agnes Van Amerongen, Mae Register, and Freda Townsend.