Obituary of John W. Edie

John William Edie passed away December 20, 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa.  He was 89 years old.  In accordance with his wishes, John was cremated.  John’s ashes will be buried in the Oak Green section of the Oakland Cemetery, 1000 Brown St, Iowa City, IA 52242, at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023.  There will be a gathering of friends and family that day from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Gay and Ciha, 2720 Muscatine Ave, Iowa City, IA   52240.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made, in John’s name, to Mercy Hospital Iowa City or Iowa City Public Library.

John was born July 16, 1933, the son of Irwin Walter and Josephine Rose Marie  Hagen Edie, in Charles City, Iowa.  He graduated from high school in Rudd, Iowa.  He began undergraduate studies at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, but interrupted his studies to serve in the United States Army.  After his service to his country, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at Upper Iowa and began graduate work at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO.  While there, on November 2, 1957, John married the love of his life, Donna Faye Neale, originally of Northwood, Iowa and also an Upper Iowa graduate, who, at that time, was an elementary school teacher in Loveland, CO.  John and Donna moved back to Iowa where Donna continued to teach in elementary schools and John continued his study of Physics at the University of Iowa, completing his Masters of Science degree in Physics in 1961 and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Science Education in 1969.

In the 1960s John taught Physics at Iowa Wesleyan College, Upper Iowa, and Cornell College. He eventually became involved with electronic microscopy and microprobe, his final position at the University of Iowa as Professor and Researcher in the College of Dentistry.

John was extremely intelligent, scholarly, mathematical, and analytical, but also was an outdoor enthusiast :  sailing, camping, cross country and downhill skiing, golfing, hiking, and bicycling.  Besides Donna; academia; building color tvs, sailboats, etc from scratch; making wine and beer; pool; probability studies, extensive travel; one of Johns strongest passions was watching Hawkeye football and basketball and NCAA basketball in general.  John’s unique personality and brilliant mind will be missed, but his legacy will live on through all who love him.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Donna, of Iowa City; his sister Rose Marie Edie Tucker of Cresco, Iowa; his sister-in-law Barbara Jane Neale Seglem of Fertile, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews and their families.   He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eugene, and sisters Betty Lou Edie Dyre Winslow and Jo Ann Edie Wilch, and Donna’s siblings, Ardis LeFern Neale Lebrecht, Herbert, Carol Ann Neale Rohr, and Elliott. 

Please continue to keep John's family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.