|
Visitation will be at Greenwood Funeral Home in
Cherokee, beginning at noon Friday, with the family
present from 5 to 7 Friday evening. His funeral
will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran
Church in Cherokee. Pastor James Steen will
officiate.
Burial will take place at 2 p.m. the following
Saturday, May 28, at Roaches Chapel Cemetery,
McLean, Ill.
Mr. Bevard and his wife lived for a short time in
Lincoln, Ill., where he worked in sales. His sales
career led him and his family to several communities
in Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. In 1966 they moved
to Cherokee, where he owned Cherokee Ford Tractor.
He most recently worked for Holzhauer Motors as a
car salesman.
He was born on Jan. 31, 1930, in Bloomington,
Ill. His parents were George E. and Martha E. Young
Bevard. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Liesman
in Lincoln, Ill., on May 18, 1952.
He is survived by his wife, of Cherokee; three
children, Cherie (and Dennis) Holton of Cherokee,
Tom (and Connie) Bevard of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and
Todd Bevard of Cherokee (and his special friend,
Mary Costello of Muscatine, Iowa); four
grandchildren, Melanie (and Todd) Benson of Overland
Park, Kan., Heather (and Jason) Swarthout of
Chariton, Iowa, Stasia Bevard of Natchitoches, La.,
and Christopher Bevard (and fiancée Ashley Ahrens)
of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; seven great-grandchildren,
Jack, Joe, Trey and Harper Benson, and Will, Mitch
and Tatum Swarthout; a sister-in-law, Diane Liesman
of Washington, D.C.; one brother, John Bevard of
Mount Pulaski, Ill.; and one nephew and five nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two
brothers, Bill and Tom, and their wives, Millie and
Carolyn; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Merle
and Mary Liesman; a great-nephew, Jon Liesman; and
his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold
"Brownie" and Emily Liesman.
His childhood years were spent in Atlanta, Ill.,
where he attended school. He graduated in 1948 from
Lincoln High School, where he excelled in baseball
and was offered a tryout with the Chicago White Sox.
Prior to his tryout with the White Sox, Ed was
severely injured in an explosion at a dry cleaning
business where he worked. He spent the next 18
months in a hospital recovering from his injuries,
and his dreams of playing baseball were dashed. He
went on to attend Lincoln College, where he
graduated with a business degree.
Ed enjoyed collecting coins, stamps, playing
cards and being active with the Republican Party. He
was also a passionate Hawkeye and St. Louis
Cardinals fan.
Most of all, Ed loved being around his family and
friends.
Online condolences may be sent at
www.greenwoodfuneral.com. |
 |
