Edward J. Fitzgerald, 79, died March 17, 2013, at Mennonite Friendship Communities. He was born Aug. 30, 1933, in Hutchinson to Gene and Flora (Purdue) Fitzgerald.
On April 27, 1957, he married Luella "Dickie" Mueller. She died March 30, 2011.
He was a member of Church of the Holy Cross. Ed served in the United States Air Force, retired from the Office of Special Investigations, and started the locally owned Pic Quik convenience stores.
Survivors include: daughter, Debbie Fast and husband Dan of Hutchinson; two sons, Marc Fitzgerald of Husum, Wash. and Barry Fitzgerald and wife Debbie of Superior, Colo.; two brothers, Francis Fitzgerald of Minnesota and Mike Fitzgerald of Wellington; sister, Clara Marie Wakefield of Wichita; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ed was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Vincent Fitzgerald.
Parish rosary will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2013, with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 a.m. at Church of the Holy Cross, with Father Joseph Eckberg presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013, and Friday, March 22, 2013, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial, with military honors by McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Church of the Holy Cross, Trinity Catholic High School or Mennonite Friendship Communities, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.