Edward Havens
Edward Havens
A former West Union resident Edward A. Havens, 78, died May 10th, 2021, in his home in Scottsdale, AZ.
Mr. Havens was born August 12th, 1942, in Hannibal, MO., to Glenn M. Havens and Pauline A. Miller Havens.
He lived a ‘true love and basketball’ life. As a young boy, he scrambled around the same tunnels that Mark Twain famously wrote about. He grew up in Galesburg, IL, where he excelled in sports. He was a member of the Hall of Fame inducted 1959 Silver Streaks Illinois State tournament basketball team and a starter on the 1960 state team.
After high school, he spent time at Knox College and then attended Iowa Wesleyan College. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dianne K. Frieden. She was a former basketball superstar for the Valley Tigers of Elgin, IA. They were both playing basketball for Iowa Wesleyan where they met and fell in love. He never shared all of the details of what happened with me, but as the story goes, he got caught sneaking in to Dianne’s dorm room and let’s just say his tenure at Iowa Wesleyan was cut short.
During Vietnam, while others were avoiding being drafted, he decided to enlist in the Army. He was a decorated Green Beret and attended Officer Candidate School to earn his commission. While in the service, he never forgot about his love and when the first opportunity arose for him to marry her, he did just that.
After his time in Vietnam, Ed and his new bride settled in to West Union, IA, where he earned his undergraduate degree from Upper Iowa University. Shortly after, he was selected to become a JAG officer and earned his law degree from the University of Iowa. He spent time in Washington, where they started a family, Texas, North Carolina, and Hawaii, where Dianne tragically died and he retired from service.
He then moved to Iowa, where he resided for many years until 2019, at which point he moved to Arizona to be close to his family and young grandson, Julian.
Ed could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He loved fishing and hunting and absolutely loved all things sports. He was the type of person that never put himself first. He brought heaps of love and laughter to the world. I love you, Dad. Until we meet again pops!
Surviving are one son, Merrick (and Arielle Kuritzky-) Havens; and one grandson, Julian Havens; all of Scottsdale, AZ.
Arrangements and services will be held August 14th, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Illyria Community Church in Elgin, IA.