Marion Edwin York, 89, of Burlington died November 3, at home with family by his side. Ed passed quickly and thankfully did not suffer; he died of complications related to his heart and lungs, and while the past few months were not easy for him, this summer he was still riding his Big Bear, driving his new riding mower, and yelling at speeding cars on Gnahn street.
Ed met Jean while she was in nursing school; they had Chinese food for their first date, and later joked that they needed help with the menu. Soon after they married in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa in 1954 and lived in Burlington, Iowa near their families for most of their lives. He frequently mentioned how much he was looking forward to seeing Jean again, who passed in 2015.
He was known as Pat to his family, Ed to his friends, and Mr. York to his many students. Mr. York was best known for his many years as a biology teacher at Burlington High School. He developed advanced laboratory methods for inspiring students to think independently, and the words “fetal pig” will spark mixed memories for many. He received his Master’s Degree in Education at Atlanta University. He served in the Army states-side and observed one of the first US fax transmissions in the testing of this new communication technology.
He was less known for his conceptual futuristic thinking, but this was important to him, and he predicted trends that came true 20 or 30 years later. In the 1980’s he developed a new type of diesel engine oil filtration system and tested it on hundreds of Iowa school buses, proving that the oil never had to be changed and engine performance improved over time. For this work, he won best paper at the 1983 Society of Automotive Engineering conference. This summer he was trying to make his case to the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture for farming ideas that he believed would be needed as global climate change progresses.
Ed was very proud of his wife Jean and his kids Dave, Denise, and Pam and their spouses Robin, Dave, and Jay. He has four grandchildren Cary, Grant, Miranda, and Blake, and 6 great-grandchildren Austin, Hailey, Shannan, Mayah, Jase, and Mayla who called him Big Poppa, and an extended family who he enjoyed living across Gnahn street for many years.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, brother Dan, sister Peg, his mother Dorothy, and his father Owen.
Our family loved him dearly even when he was grouchy or ranting about the world today. We will especially remember him for his love of giant sunflowers and all the good times fishing, boating, gardening, and building bonfires. We love you Dad, Grandpa, and Big Poppa.
The Graveside Committal Service for Mr. York will be 1 p.m. Monday, November 7, at Edwards Cemetery. Please join his family afterward at the Drake Restaurant in Burlington from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a time of food and fellowship.
A memorial has been established for the “Marion Edwin York Memorial”, where funds will be awarded annually to outstanding students. Checks or flowers can be sent to the Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street, Burlington IA 52601.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Marion's obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.