Edward Ernest Feichtinger

Memorial services were held in the Waverly Courtyard at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 Fairhaven Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705. He is interred beside his wife of 56 years, Mettie May Barnes.

Edward was raised on a farm with his brothers Henry and John near Panora, Iowa and he moved to California in 1940. As a boy he plowed fields driving Clydesdale horses. His boyhood home had no electricity, gas, or telephone service. And he did walk the proverbial mile to and from a one room country school house.

During World War II Edward flew a C-47 in the western Pacific carrying troops and supplies. He dropped supplies on Iwo Jima during February and March 1945 at the height of the conflict there. During his assignments as a pilot he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf clusters and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He finished more than 20 years of military service while in the reserves here in California finally attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Almost all of his working life he spent as a successful small business owner. Edward was an irrigation contractor installing small and large irrigation systems in residential homes and on school grounds, golf courses, freeway landscaped areas, and parks. He spent almost his entire working life outdoors.

Edward is survived by his three children Carl Edward, Jo Ann O’Day with husband John O’Day, and Janet Lee Powers with husband John Powers, four Grandchildren, six Great Grandchildren, and Wife Barbara Hall with two sons. Edward was predeceased by Helen Conner and did continue a close family relationship with her three sons.

Edward is one of the most exemplary members of “Our Greatest Generation”. His core values of honesty, integrity, and hard work gained him a large group of friends and a dedicated family. Edward was the finest example of “an officer and a gentleman”. He will be missed.