Joseph “Joe” Leonard Edwards, 90, of McCook, NE., passed away at the Hillcrest Caring Center on Monday, February 6, 2023. He was born south of Culbertson, on August 12, 1932, to Floyd and Josephine (Schmitt) Edwards. Later, the family moved to the homestead of his grandparents, Simpson and Rosella (Doherty) Edwards.
Joe served his country in the United States Army joining the service in Denver, Colorado, on February 5, 1951. Joe was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for Basic Training and later served at White Sands Proving Ground Guided Missile Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was Honorably Discharged on February 5, 1955.
Joe returned to Nebraska where he was employed at Klein’s Motor and Electric and the McCook Packing and Rendering Company. He established Edwards Machine Shop where he was a welder and master machinist. He also enjoyed working on his farms.
Joe was united in marriage to Ruth Fikan Gross who preceded him in death. Joe later married Alice (Witt) Nelson on February 15, 1990, who preceded his death in 2022.
Joe was also preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Josephine; brother, Lee and wife, Elizabeth Edwards; two sisters, Laverne and husband, Peter Curcio, Lucy and husband, Grovert Harris; as well as a bother-in-law, Anthony Paolazzi, Sr.
Joe is survived by his sister, Goldie Paolazzi; his step-children: Judy (Larry) Hall, Barbara (Frank) Peluso, Teresa (Johnny) Pineda, Tamara (Mark) Harpst, Brad (Celia) Nelson, and Alan Nelson; his nieces and nephews: Penny Minary, Carmela Somma, Charlene Richards, Lucy Curcio, Laurie, Anthony, Ken & Ray Paolazzi and David Edwards.
Funeral Services will be held at the Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM with Terry McCorkle officiating. Visitation will be Friday, February 10, 2023, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Military Honors will be performed by the Culbertson American Legion and the United States Army Honors team at graveside.
Memorials may be left in Joe’s name at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel. Friends may leave online condolences at herrmannfh.com.