Edmund J. “Ed” Peters Jr., 87, Hays, died Thursday, June 3, 2021, at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.
He was born August 7, 1933, in Brownell, Kansas the son of Edmund J. and Eleanoria (Rupp) Peters. In 1951, he graduated from Kinsley High School and attended Fort Hays State University for two years. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving with the 8th Infantry Division in Germany. He was a supervisor on the shipping dock for the United States Post Office in Hays for 32 years, retiring in 1988. In 1989, he started working at Flax Lawn and Landscape, a second career that would last another 30 years. On January 21, 1956, he was united in marriage to Norene C. Wasinger in Hays and she preceded him in death on March 31, 2012, after celebrating over 56 years of marriage. His memberships included: St. Joseph Catholic Church, the St. Joseph 3rd degree Knights of Columbus council #1325, and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. Ed enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, baking, playing cards, and teaching his grandchildren hunter’s safety. His faith and family were of utmost importance to him and he was quick to share his wry smile and sense of humor.
Survivors include a son: Edmund Peters III of San Diego, CA, three daughters: Rebecca Gleason and husband Joe of Dodge City, Rhonda Flax and husband Ron of Hays, and Renee Rau of Blue Springs, MO, a sister: Eleanoria Brake of Laurel, MD, fifteen grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Norene, a daughter Rhonda Rae Peters, a brother Elon Peters, and a sister Edith Foss.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Matthew Cowan officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. The Bishop Cunningham Knights of Columbus will stand honor guard from 5:30 until 6:30, a vigil service will begin at 6:30, followed by a combined third and fourth degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, all on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to TMP-Marian High School or to the St. Joseph Church building fund. Condolences and memories of Ed may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com