Edward Closson

Edward “Ed” Eugene Closson, 82 was born October 26, 1930, in Independence, Missouri and passed away peacefully April 13, 2013, from pneumonia and other complications. Ed suffered a massive stroke in June 1999 and has gone through therapy, rehabilitation and nursing care for 14 years.
Ed graduated from high school and Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. He graduated with a BA degree in history, physical education and safety education from Iowa State Teachers College. He received his Masters and Specialist degrees in counseling and education from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in counseling and school administration from St. Louis University.
Ed received a medical discharge from the US Navy in 1950.
He taught at Belleville Community College and at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. He started an alternative school and was a counselor and a vocational educator in Illinois and Missouri. He was a director of vocational education at four school districts in Missouri and Arizona.
In addition to his teaching counseling and administrative work in public schools and higher education, he also worked in insurance and in educational product sales.
Ed was an elder in the Community of Christ Church. As a young man he participated in sports, music and the Boy Scouts of America.
Edward was preceded in death by his parents Eugene E. and Julia Anna (Travis) Closson.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Carol (Warnock) Closson and daughters Susan (Closson) Schneider, Belleville, Illinois; Julie (Closson) Hoffman and husband Warren of Denver Colorado; Carol (Closson) Joseph and husband Renster of Raytown, Missouri; and Kelly (Closson) Lednovich and husband Alan of Blue Springs, Missouri; granddaughters Jessaca (Schneider) Petrunich and husband Ryan and their son Bradley; Emery Hoffman, and Anna and Sara Lednovich; sister Mary Jane (Closson) White and husband Chet of Lamoni, Iowa; and brother Jim Closson and wife Ellie of Blue Springs, Missouri and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held for Edward at 2:00pm Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Good Shepherd congregation of the Community of Christ Church, 4341 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64133-2026.
His burial will be at 2:00pm Sunday, April 28, 2013 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Lamoni, Iowa.
Contributions in memory of Edward E. Closson can be made to the Eugene E. Closson Memorial Scholarship:
Graceland University Development Office
1 University Place
Lamoni, IA 50140