Edward “Ed” Raymond Feldhacker of Oakland, Iowa, passed away at his home residence on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on September 8, 2026, at the age of 83 years, 6 months, and 22 days. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic with Pastor Jessica Jacobsen officiating. Burial will follow at the Atlantic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Memorials may be directed to the family and may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Edward “Ed” Raymond Feldhacker was born February 17, 1943 to Raymond “Ray” Peter Feldhacker and Vernice Eileen (De Weese) Feldhacker at Sioux City, Iowa. The Feldhacker family moved from Onawa to Spencer, Iowa in 1944. As a young boy he was known by family and friend’s as “Eddie Ray,” and as a teenage he was known as “Fast Eddie.” He attended a country school in first grade and then attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School through the eighth grade. As a young boy he was active in the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts. When he was nine years old he served as an altar boy at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and throughout his whole life and to this day he was able to memorize and recite “The Lord’s Prayer” in Latin. He attended Spencer High School in Spencer, Iowa. In high school he participated in track by running 100 yards in 10.2 seconds.
Ed met the love of his life, Elaine Beth Meerdink in 1962 and they were united in marriage on May 3, 1963 at the Cathedral of Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa. They enjoyed 63 years as a happy couple. They started their married life together in Sioux City, where Ed worked at Needham Packing Division of Sioux City Dressed Beef. In the summer of 1967 they moved back to his hometown of Spencer and he was employed at Spencer Foods, Inc. When the Spencer plant closed due to a shutdown, they moved to Cherokee, Iowa in August of 1979. Ed was employed and promoted in 1980 as a supervisor in Pace Boning and later in Shipping and Receiving at Wilson Foods Corporation where he worked for 20 years. He worked a short time as a supervisor at Quality Pork in Austin, Minnesota from 1999 to 2001. They returned to Iowa to be closer to family. Ed was employed as a Shipping and Receiving Supervisor at Oakland Foods (OSI) in 2001 until his retirement on July 9, 2007.
Ed rededicated his life to Christ and became a born again Christian in the 1980’s. Ed, his wife and two daughters Kim and Brandee attended many Bible study classes at the home of Harold and Barbara Beckman when they lived in Cherokee. Ed had a sensitive spirit and a big heart for the needy and the handicapped, his love and heart went out for the little children. Ed was a true sportsman who loved nature and animals. Ed was a member of the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club for many years when they lived in Spencer. He especially enjoyed archery, camping, golfing, hunting, fishing, and attending gun shows. He enjoyed reloading his own shells and helping others sight in their guns on his rifle range at their acreage. Ed had a deep love for his children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with all of them. He took pride in his grandchildren by attending several of their activities that they were involved in, whether it was basketball, football, plays, or singing recitals.
Ed was known for his great sense of humor and his ability to visit with anyone, including strangers. He was gifted in sales, and with this gift he was told by many that he could sell ice to the Eskimos. He had a jovial extraverted personality and had the ability to make friends out of strangers that he met for the first time. Elaine loved Ed’s unique sense of humor and was always amazed how he came up with the funny things he shared with her.
One of his most prized accomplishments was on September 12, 1975 when he caught and reeled in the new Iowa State Record Muskie out of Emerson Bay at West Lake Okoboji, Iowa. The Muskie weighed 38 pounds, had a 233⁄4 inch girth, and measured at 521⁄2 inches in length. This Muskie held the record for eleven years. Ed caught several muskies, which he released after they were witnessed; one Muskie that he released was 28 pounds. Ed can always recall the date he caught this muskie, he was always hoping he could beat out his own record, but it never happened. We all know the first muskie he caught is a once in a lifetime accomplishment.
Left to cherish Ed’s memory are his wife of 63 years Elaine Feldhacker of Oakland, Iowa, two son-in-law’s, Matt Alexander of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Bill Dalke of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, his grandchildren, Cory Hicks of Phoenix, Arizona, Austin (Corrina) Alexander of Sheldon, Iowa, and Abby Alexander of Iowa City, Iowa. His step grandchildren, Chelon Busch and Wade Dalke of Sioux City, Iowa. His great granddaughter, Aaliyah Rochelle Hicks of Phoenix, Arizona and three step great grandchildren, Allie Busch, Will Busch, and Makayla Busch of Sioux City, Iowa. His brother: Don (Deanna) Feldhacker of Lawton, Iowa, and sister, Laurie Feldhacker of Spencer, Iowa, two sister-in-law’s, Carole Feldhacker and Sally Feldhacker both of Spencer, Iowa, along with several beloved nieces and nephews, and other family members and friends.
Ed was preceded in death by his three daughters, Tamara Kay Feldhacker on July 11, 1968, Brandee Marie Alexander on November 19, 2008, Kim Rochelle Dalke on August 10, 2019, his parents, Raymond “Ray” and Vernice (De Weese) Feldhacker, his father-in-law and mother-in- law, Wilbur and Harriet (Borgman) Meerdink, his brother-in-law, Lonnie Long and sister, Londa (Feldhacker) Long, brothers, Michael “Mike” Feldhacker, David Feldhacker, John Feldhacker, and infant William Joseph Feldhacker, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne and Phyllis Meerdink and several aunts and uncles.
We wish to thank the St. Croix Hospice team of Council Bluffs for their wonderful services we received the past seven months.
