John William Edwards was born February 6, 1929 in Union County, Iowa, to Thomas Brian and Lillian Beatrice (Tilton) Edwards. He graduated from Lorimor High School and later served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict where he fought on Heartbreak Ridge. During his military service, John was wounded four times and received two purple hearts. John's marriage to Roberta June Miller took place in September of 1954 and she preceded him in death on September 6, 1978. He then married Clara Spyres on June 3, 1979 in Thayer. John worked as a service engineer for Lenox Industries in Des Moines for many years. He also owned L and E Plumbing as well as J and R Grain Dryer Sales and Service both out of Lorimor. He also farmed for many years and retired in 1995 from the postal service as a mail clerk working out of the Creston Post Office.

John was a member of the American Legion and V.F.W. Posts of Lorimor. He was also a member of the Lorimor Lions Club and Lorimor Masonic Lodge. John was also very active in the Lorimor community serving as mayor for 8 years and president of the Lorimor Community Development Committee.

When not working or telling stories, John enjoyed crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Family was very dear to him and he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who loved nothing more than the time spent with family.

John is survived by his wife, Clara Edwards of Winterset; his children, Karla Goodwin (Floyd Taber) of Villisca; Debra Eggman (Larry Brown) of Prescott; John T. Edwards (Monica Fizer) of Lorimor; Pamela Oshel of Corning; Sarah Edwards (Adam Stichter) of Lorimor; three siblings, Donna Vert (Dewey) of Des Moines; Jean Sheffer (Eugene) of Indianola; Sara Edwards; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Roberta; two sons, Thomas Edwards and Charles Marts; a granddaughter; a brother, Tommy Edwards; a sister, Maurine "Mandy" Jones and a son-in-law, Mark Eggman.