Edwin John “Ed” Brecht

Edwin John “Ed” Brecht

Watkins

Edwin John “Ed” Brecht, 95, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Norway, with Rev. Fr. Jacob Dunne as Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, also at the church in Norway, where light refreshments will be served. Interment with military rites will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Memorials may be directed to the family for a scholarship fund that will be set up in Ed’s name to assist future farmers in their education.

Ed was born on Nov. 21, 1927, on the Brecht Family Century Farm, the son of Leonard “Lennie” and Bertha (Schmuecker) Brecht. Ed graduated from Norway High School with the Class of 1945. He served his country in the United States Army from 1950 through 1952, during the Korean War. On Oct. 29, 1951, he was united in marriage to Eileen LaTour at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. The couple would have celebrated their 72nd anniversary this year.

Ed was a lifelong Watkins-area farmer and was a real estate agent with Gibson Realty and an insurance agent with Life Investors. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Norway and was the longest serving Benton County Supervisor, holding office for 20 years from 1980 until 2000. Ed was active in several civic and professional organizations, including the Iowa Charolais Cattle Breeders Association, and a 62-year member of the American Legion. In 2016, he was the Benton County Democratic Central Committee Hall of Fame inductee. He received the 1995 State of Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award and was honored by HACAP for the hours donated to fight hunger, poverty, and homelessness in the community.

Survivors include his wife, Eileen; daughter, Theresa Werner of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law, Shelly Brecht of Watkins; five grandchildren, Nikkole Werner, Brittney (Brad) Danielson, all of Cedar Rapids; Kelsey Brecht, Tanner (Nicole Schultz) Brecht, all of Watkins; and Brianne Ratliff of Miami, Fla.; four great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Lillian, Georgie and Liam; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved son Bryce in 2021; four brothers, Floyd (Mary) Brecht, Leonard (Arlene) Brecht, Marvin Brecht in infancy, Bernard (Marian) Brecht; two sisters, Katherine (Ora) Kimm and Evelyn (Keith) Kimm; and his sister-in-law Dorothy Brecht.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.