Memorial Services for Edward L. “Ed” Bannister will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart Jr., officiating. Private family interment will be held at the Elwood Cemetery at Elwood, Nebraska, prior to the services.

Edward Lee Bannister, 78 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, following a critical brain injury. Ed was born on July 16, 1934 in Elwood, Nebraska, the youngest of three children born to Marion and May (Moncrief) Bannister of Elwood. Ed received his education from Elwood Public Schools, graduating from Elwood High School and then pursued higher education at the McCook Junior College at McCook, Nebraska on a scholarship to play football. Following his education, Ed was inducted into the United States Army and served two years thereafter in the Armed Forces, completing his period of service in February of 1957 and receiving his honorable discharge.

On March 17, 1957 he was united in marriage to Marlyne Tilson at the Christian Church in Elwood and to this union two children were born: Edward Lee Bannister, Jr. and Kathryn May Bannister. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Ed was employed as an Engineer with the Nebraska Department of Roads until his retirement in 1996.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege. Ed will be remembered by many for his passion of Trapshooting. From his start in 1968 up until a few years ago when his eyesight began to diminish, Ed had shot over 261,935 targets and won countless shoots not only in Nebraska, but California, Arizona and Ohio. He took pride in his gun collection as well as his hobby for collecting coins and knives. An avid Husker fan, he loved watching all the Nebraska sports on television and never forgot to put out the NU flag on game day. He was a devoted husband and father and a loyal friend to all those who knew him.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother, Donald. He leaves to mourn in his passing, his loving wife of 55 years, Marlyne Bannister of Holdrege; two children: Edward Lee Bannister, Jr. of Lincoln, and Kathryn May Bannister of San Diego, California; one sister, Gwendolyn Debban of Omaha, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law: Marilyn E. Jorges of Lincoln, and Kathy Kay Weismann and her husband, Bill of Elwood.

In addition, Ed is also survived by nieces: Cindy (Jorges) McCormick and her husband, Craig of Holdrege, Marcy (Jorges) Overcash and her husband, James of Lincoln, Jennifer Jorges and her husband, Lateef Johnson of Lincoln and Cynthia Peterman and her husband, Marlin of Omaha; and nephews: David Jorges of Holdrege, Douglas Debban of Lincoln, David Debban of Omaha and Donald Debban of Elwood.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 8, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.