Edwin Gale Eschen

(November 19, 1930 - November 9, 2017)

U.S. Veteran

Funeral Services for Edwin G. Eschen will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Community Church in Wilcox, Nebraska with Pastor Craig Cedar officiating. Interment will follow the services in the Wilcox Cemetery with military honors provided by the Wilcox American Legion Post #377, the Hildreth American Legion Post #378 in conjunction with the Offutt U.S. Air Force Base Military Honor Guard.

Edwin Gale Eschen, 86 years of age, of Wilcox, passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at the CHI Health – Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Edwin was born November 19, 1930 at Cambridge, Nebraska, the son of William H. and Ruth (Lamb) Eschen. He received his education from McCook Public Schools, graduating from McCook High School with the class of 1949.

Following his education, Edwin was inducted into the United States Air Force, and served his country as an Air Force Mechanic for over twenty years until his retirement. Throughout his dedicated years in the Air Force, Edwin was stationed in Mather and McClellan Air Force Bases in California, Chanute AFB in Champaign, Illinois, Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska, Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Plattsburgh AFB in Plattsburgh, New York.

On October 13, 1953, Edwin was united in marriage to Pearl “Annette” Anderson in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Annette also brought her son, Steve to this marriage, who Edwin accepted as his own son. In addition, to this union three sons were born: William, Larry, and Richard. The family made their home in several different communities, until settling to Wilcox in 1978.

Edwin continued his skills as a mechanic for the Nebraska Department of Roads, based out of the Minden, Nebraska office until his retirement. After retiring from the Department of Roads, Edwin was employed by True Value in Holdrege, where he worked on small engines for eleven years. Edwin then suffered his first stroke, and was unable to continue to work.

Edwin enjoyed playing Keno and Bingo in his spare time, and in his younger years he loved boating, fishing and camping with his family.

On August 6, 2015, he was preceded in death by his wife, Annette.

Besides his wife, Annette, and his parents; Edwin was preceded in death by two sons: Larry and Richard Eschen; two granddaughters: April Eschen and Heather Eschen; sisters-in-law: Florence Sladky, Hazel Sybrandt, and Dorothy Anderson and her husband, Kyle; and brothers-in-law: Dewey Farr, Clarence Anderson, Kenneth Anderson, Theodore Anderson and Herbert Anderson.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his two sons: Steve Eschen and his wife, Susan of Wilcox, and Bill Eschen of Holdrege, sixteen grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; two brothers: John Wagner and his wife, Rosalie of Chesterfield, Missouri; and Jim Wagner and his wife, Jan of Sidney, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox.

A memorial has been established in Edwin’s honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox is in charge of the arrangements.

http://www.nelsonbauerfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4443613&fh_id=10553