Edward Kaiser

Edward W. Kaiser, Jr. died peacefully on February 18, 2008, at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, KS. He was 88. Ed was born on September 27, 1919 to Edward and Rose Caenen Kaiser of Paola, KS. A life-long Miami County resident, Ed attended Grade School at the St. Patrick"s Catholic School and graduated from Paola High School in 1937. He served his country during World War II enlisting in the Army on January 20, 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, and served in the European Theatre. As a member of the 910th Battalion, he fought at the Battle of the Bulge and helped liberate Dachau Concentration Camp. He was honorably discharged in 1945. While on leave in 1944, Ed married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Snouffer, formerly of Somerset, KS. After his return from Europe, the couple moved to the farm where they continued to reside until his death. The couple had two children. Ed was a dairy farmer and produced row crops, until his retirement in 1984. He attended St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Osawatomie, KS for 60 years. Ed was a life member of the VFW and previously served as a board member of the Farm Bureau, a school board member of the Willow Branch School and was a community leader in the Willow Branch 4-H Club. His hobbies included woodworking and anything he could use his hands to work on. Ed was preceded in death by his mother, father and his infant brother James. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Elizabeth Kaiser of the home. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, E. Joseph and Nancy Kaiser of Winter Park, Florida; his daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Douglas Reeder of Gardner; his brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Vera Kaiser of Paola; his grandchildren, Jason Kaiser of Orlando, Florida; Jeff and Elizabeth (Sweeney) Reeder of Paola; Amy (Kaiser) and Reid O"Kelley of Tallahassee, Florida; Elizabeth Reeder of Independence, Missouri and his great-grandchildren; Sanders, Alexandra & Caroline O"Kelley; Alaina & Sam Kaiser; and Edward Patrick Reeder. Visitation will be at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Paola on Thursday, February 21 following the Rosary at 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Osawatomie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edward W. Kaiser, Jr. Memorial Fund c/o Penwell-Gabel, 305 North Pearl, Paola, KS 66071. Condolences may be left at www.penwellgabel.com St Philip Osawatomie Catholic Church Service: Friday, February 22, 2008 10:30 AM Visitation: Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM