Edward Charles Hawks
Wed, 03/07/2018 - 9:48am
admin
By the age of four, Ed Hawks knew that he was born to be a cattleman. He fulfilled his childhood dream until he passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018, of natural causes on the ranch that he loved.
Edward Charles Hawks was born July 19, 1953, in Sturgis, SD, to Charles and Mildred Hawks. He attended first through eighth grades at Plainview School and attended and graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1971. In the fall of 1971, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served most of his career in Seoul, Korea. He received an honorable discharge in the fall of 1974, and returned to the family ranch. He spent the ensuing years passionately improving his registered Hereford breed.
Ed waited patiently to find the perfect wife for him. While attending his 20 year class reunion, Ed found her in his high school classmate, Gloria LeLaCheur. In August of 1992, Ed and Gloria were united in marriage at the Presbyterian Church in Sturgis and Ed helped Gloria raise her two children, Cyndi and Bryan, as his own.
Gloria changed Ed's life by introducing him to golf, bowling, white water rafting (which he still did in blue jeans), parasailing, and lots of other travel and crazy adventures. She showed Ed that there was another world beyond the ranch. Ed changed Gloria's life by sharing his faith with her and her children. He was an active member in the Church of Christ.
Ed carried on his father's fudge-making tradition and rewarded his bull buyers with a tin of fudge. Ed's fudge was a staple at the community potlucks and he was proud that his son, Bryan, is carrying on the family tradition.
Ed never complained and was always optimistic. Ed loved spending time with friends and family and especially loved his role as Papa Eddie to his two grandchildren. He recently taught his granddaughter to play Cribbage and he never got tired of spending time around the kitchen table playing cards. Ed recently discovered Facebook and would spend hours "friending" people he knew, and people he didn't.
Ed is survived by his wife, Gloria; his children, Cyndi (Matt Nelson), Sergeant Bluff, IA, and their children, Makenna and Parker, and Bryan Braley (Kyle Martinek), Omaha, NE. He is also survived by his brother, Gary (Connie), Tyndall, SD; sisters, Sue (Curtis Jones), Piedmont, SD, and Karen (Al Shade), Davis, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mildred Hawks.
Funeral services were Friday, March 2, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Pastor Harold Delbridge, Pastor Calvin Chapman and Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Burial followed at Bear Butte Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
