Edwin Canaday

 

 Edwin Canaday, 93, of rural Redwood Falls died Friday, June 27, 2008 at the Redwood Area Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2008 from the Nelson-Martin Funeral Chapel in Redwood Falls. Friends are invited to join the family for a time of fellowship following the memorial service.

Arrangements are with the Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls.

The family requests memorials be made to Alzheimers research or to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association).

Edwin Lloyd Canaday, the son of Raymond and Emma (Wood) Canaday, was born July 29, 1914 in Chadron, Nebraska. Ed moved with his family several times during his youth, living and obtaining his schooling in the states of Nebraska, Wyoming, California and Iowa.

On January 29, 1936, Ed married Lois Kirkpatrick in Elk Point, South Dakota. The couple lived in Nebraska for a time and then set up housekeeping in Sioux City, Iowa. They lived in several places during their early married years, including LeMars and Sheldon, Iowa. The Canadays moved to Seattle, Washington during World War II where Ed and Lois both worked in the defense plant. After the war, they returned to Iowa where the family lived until moving to their farm near Redwood Falls in 1949.

Ed was a mechanic from the time he could hold a wrench in his hand. As an adult, he was a farmer, an avid small aircraft pilot, and a self-employed mechanic. When not farming, and sometimes during farming, Ed enjoyed building and fine-tuning airplane and racing engines. He modified almost every engine he worked on, from five horsepower Briggs and Stratons to R2800 Pratt and Whitney aircraft engines. Ed’s engine expertise is shown in his collection of mechanics trophies and racing championship trophies which his engines acquired for him during his modified stock car racing years on southern Minnesota raceways.

Ed was a life member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, belonged to the Racing and Engine Mechanics Association, and was a licensed Aircraft Inspector.

He is survived by his wife Lois of Parkview Home in Belview; daughter Elaine (Lester) Wille of Good Springs, Nevada; daughter Geri (John) McPherson of Randolph, Kansas; son Mike (Brenda) Canaday of Redwood Falls; daughter Barb (Bud) Robertson of Renville; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister Lila (Ken) Masden of Grand Island, Nebraska. Ed was preceded in death by one daughter, one great-grandson, one brother, and four sisters.

Blessed be his memory.