04/28/2023
Name: Ira John Ward
B. September 24,1924
Died: April 28, 2023
Father: Thurman E. Ward
Mother: Cora A. Shivvers
Spouse: Phyllis Ann Beeler
Married: July 1946
Children:
Linda Ward- James Taylor
Janet Ward- Darl Oppedal
Grand Children: Robert, Kevin, Ryan, Brianne
Ira John Ward, Lt COL, USA Retired, an alumnus of the KHS Class of 1942.
Ira, a resident of Clermont, Florida, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023, at the age of 98.
Born September 24, 1924, in Knoxville, the youngest of seven children, he grew up on the family farm.
He attended a one-room country school through the 8th grade, graduating from KHS in 1942.
After a short stint in the US Navy, Ira received an appointment to the West Point Military Academy, graduating in 1950.
After graduation, Ira married Phyllis Beeler of Truro, Iowa. They would have a marriage that lasted 65 years. He was a 20-year career Army officer with combat assignments in Korea and Vietnam Nam.
Following retirement from the Army, Ira taught engineering at Iowa State University until his full retirement in 1986 when the family moved to Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers,
Ted, Marce, and four sisters: Pauline Henning, Lena Hale, Helen Roberts, and Frances Jean Caswell.
Family and friends are invited to attend services at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, on Wednesday, June 7th at 11:30 am.
The Alzheimer’s Association is accepting donations in Ira’s name.