Edmund Joseph Mallow Sr.

PEORIA - Edmund (Ed) Joseph Mallow Sr., 84, of Peoria was received into Jesus’s loving arms with his family around him on Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Peoria, IL. He was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Peoria, to John J. and Cecelia S. Bojalad Mallow. He married Harriet A. Alwan November 17, 1951, in Peoria. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, his parents, and brother, Raymond.

Ed is survived by his seven children, Barbara (John) Woerly of Carmel, IN, Edmund Jr. (Cathy) Mallow of East Peoria, Carolyn (Richard) Kauffman of Lebanon, OH, Sharon (Jim) Karosky of Peoria, Elaine (David) Owen of Roscoe, IL, Dianna (Chris) Russick of Peoria, and Rick (Deanna) Mallow of Robins, IA; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister Isabelle Couri of Peoria.

Ed’s working life began in the third grade in his father’s shoe shop on Main St, Mallow Shoe Repair. By the time he graduated from Spalding Institute in 1947, he was a Master Craftsman. Because of his father’s illness, he was unable to accept a scholarship he had won to go to college. Instead, he stayed home and successfully ran the family shoe repair business for the next 14 years. In the early 1960’s he decided the shoe business did not hold the future he wanted, so Ed began searching for a new career. At that time, he and Harriett had six children with the seventh one on the way, and $2700 dollars in their pocket.

One day his ‘IDS Man’ came to the shop while Ed was reading the Wall Street Journal. Shortly thereafter he was hired by IDS (now Ameriprise Financial), given one half day of training, and sent to work as a financial planner. After two years he became a district manager. Although he enjoyed training new salesman, he realized his true calling was working with clients. So in 1969 Ed left management for good. From there Ed built his business using a mailing program. For 10 years he sent out 200 mailers every week. Eventually he built his practice to 600 clients and maintained that level for many years. Along the way he amassed an impressive collection of awards by helping people protect their families, buy homes and businesses, educate their children, retire comfortably, and make sure their money would outlive them. He retired at the age of 73 in 2002 after 40 years of dedicated service.

Family was Ed’s whole life and top priority. He loved to cook family dinners, go fishing with his kids, and play a friendly game of poker. He always had a package of fresh caught frozen fish fillets at the ready for an ad-hoc family dinner. Ed generously shared his pearls of wisdom and life lessons, which were cherished by all who knew him. In his retirement years he made jewelry for his family, affectionately known as ‘Grandpa or Jidu jewelry’. Even during his stay at the nursing home, he never lost his compassion for helping those in need. He often would be seen helping his ‘less able’ dinner tablemates cut up their food, before eating himself. This is the legacy for us as his family.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:30 PM on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home on Allen Rd. The Rosary will be prayed following the visitation. An additional visitation will be held for one hour prior to the services at church on Thursday. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Dream Center of Peoria or the American Heart Association. The Mallow family wishes to thank family and friends for all of their support and prayers.