Z. Edward Simkin

Zachary Edward Simkin, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. A funeral service will be held Monday, Nov. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Jeff "Duke" Crawford officiating. Burial will be in Forest Home Cemetery.

Memorials have been established to the Mt. Pleasant Booster Club, Calvary Baptist Church or Midwest Old Threshers Foundation.

Born June 15, 1924, Zachary Edward Simkin was the son of Guy and Alice Blanche Doan Simkin. He received his early education in rural schools and later graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1943.

On March 3, 1946, Ed married Nadine Kudobe in Mt. Pleasant. She preceded him in death on April 27, 1984. Ed lived and farmed on the same farm southwest of Mt. Pleasant all of his life. He partnered with his wife in the Simkin Camper Sales business for many years, retiring in 1999.

Ed was a member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and later attended Oakland Mills Community Church. For the past several years he attended Calvary Baptist Church. Ed was an active volunteer at Midwest Old Threshers for many years and especially enjoyed assisting with school tours. He received the Old Thresher of the Year Award in 2001. Mr. Simkin was a diligent supporter of the Mt. Pleasant Goal Line, now known as the Mt. Pleasant Booster Club, and was named Grand Marshal of the 2006 Homecoming Parade.

He is survived by two daughters, Judy Miller and her husband, Donald, and Connie Conner, both of Burlington; and several nieces and nephews.

His wife, parents, and three sisters, Agnes Van Amerongen, Mae Register, and Freda Townsend, preceded him in death.