The Life of EDDIE LAWRENCE CARR JR.
Eddie L. Carr Jr., 85, of Ames, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010, at home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, October 29, 2010, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memorial Gardens in Des Moines. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 30, 2010 also at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens in Des Moines.
Eddie was born June 22, 1925, in Des Moines, the first of four sons of Eddie L. Carr Sr. and Margaret (Reeves) Carr. He graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1943. During World War II, Eddie served on active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1944 to 1946, in the Pacific Theater. He continued his service with the Army Reserves, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1985.
Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Eddie graduated from Iowa State College in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He worked as an engineer for the city of Des Moines for 31 years, retiring in 1986. He was honored as the Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Association’s Man of the Year in 1985. He was a registered Professional Engineer and land surveyor in Iowa, Arkansas and Colorado.
Eddie married Nadine V. Meyer June 24, 1952, in Des Moines. Eddie and Nadine made their home in Des Moines until 1989. They moved to Marion in 1989 and lived there until moving to Ames in 2000, both moves in order to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.
Eddie enjoyed driving vacations with Nadine and their daughters, traveling to nearly every state in the lower 48, northern Mexico, and several central and eastern Canadian provinces.
Keeping busy after retirement, Eddie had many and varied hobbies, including photography, woodworking, gardening, stamp collecting, genealogy research, and doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Eddie was a lifelong voracious reader and regular Bookmobile patron since moving to Ames.
Survivors include his four daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Arnie Wonders, of Nevada, Debra and Leonard Mermel, of Barrington, R.I., Kaylene and David Pagliai, of Walford, and Kristy and Gary Marnin, of Ames; granddaughters and grandsons-in-law, Alethea and Jason Decklever, Emily and Ryan Neely, Tiffany and Rustin Krapfl, and Theresa and Bradey Adams; granddaughters, Elizabeth Mermel, and Sarah and Caroline Marnin; grandson, Elliot Mermel; grandson-in-law, Joe Diedrichs; great-grandchildren, Athena Bowen, Noelle and Ava Diedrichs, Heather, Grace, Maebel and Luke Krapfl, and Declan and Wyatt Adams; and brother, John F. Carr.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine; granddaughter, Angelina Diedrichs; great-grandson, Griffin Diedrichs; parents; and two brothers, Donald and Gale.
Memorial donations in Eddie’s name may be given to Ames Public Library or a charity of the donor’s choice.