Edwin H. Bideau, also known as Edwin H. Bideau, Sr., passed away on August 10, 2010 at Chanute, Kansas. He was born at Chanute, Kansas on February 14, 1924 to Edwin H. Bideau and Marie Burris Bideau, the grandson of George K. Bideau and Jenny Bideau and Frank B. Burris and Elizabeth Burris, all of Chanute. Both sides of his family came to the Chanute area as early day pioneers. He was raised in Chanute and graduated from Chanute High School in 1941 and Neosho County Community College in 1946.

He enlisted in the United States Army following Pearl Harbor and was in the ASTP engineering training program at Washington University, St. Louis. Following the D-Day invasion he served as an infantry Sergeant in the 328th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, as a part of Patton’s 3rd Army during the Lorraine Campaign. He fought in the Battle of Moncourt Woods and the assault on the Koeking Forest, then known as the “Woods of Hell” in the battle for Dieuze, for which he received the Bronze Star. He was seriously wounded in the final stages of the battle, but returned to active duty after 10 months in the hospital.

Following the end of the war he returned to college at Kansas State University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, graduating in 1948 with a BBA degree and a minor in Agriculture. He and Beverly M. Semon of Chanute married on August 17, 1947 after her graduation from Kansas University. Following college and military service they returned to Chanute where Ed worked in the family real estate and insurance business in partnership with his mother, Marie Bideau until recalled to active military duty.

Following graduation from college in 1948 he served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Lieutenant in the 835th Aviation Engineer Btln. He was recalled to active duty for the Korean War where he served as an infantry training officer and later as Deputy Finance Officer at Percy Jones Army Hospital, 5th Army, Battle Creek, Michigan.

After the war he expanded the family business into a large commercial insurance agency and he was also an agent and branch manager for Railroad Savings Association, later Commercial Federal Bank. He spent over 50 years on Main Street and was a strong advocate for the downtown business community. He was generous and giving in the business world and helped several Chanute citizens start small businesses.

In addition to his business career he was actively engaged in farming and ranching which was one of the loves of his life. He enjoyed teaching his sons and young friends to ride, shoot, hunt and farm and loved training horses and dogs. He raised and trained Springer Spaniels, which he field trialed with Roy French of Gridley, Kansas, placing in national championships during the 1980s.

Ed and Beverly raised three sons and were very active in the Chanute community, their church and local politics. He was a life member of First Presbyterian Church at Chanute, serving as an Elder, scout leader and youth Sunday School teacher for many years. He was also active in the Buffalo Community Church at Buffalo, Kansas, serving as a lay assistant to the pastor.

He had a deep love of music with a talent for jazz improvisation. He played trumpet in a popular jazz band during school years, touring at Shadow Lake Ballroom at Noel, Missouri and with the Matt Benton Orchestra at K-State, one of the leading college dance bands in the country. In the early 1990s he started the Tioga Township Dixieland Jazz Band in Chanute to preserve the heritage of Dixieland Jazz and which raised thousands of dollars for local charities.

His wife Beverly Bideau passed away in 2001 and he later married Naomi Hickey of Buffalo, Kansas who died in 2008. Following her death he returned to Chanute.

He is survived by his sons and daughters in law, Edwin H. Bideau III and Margaret Bideau, David J. Bideau and Dairlee M. Bideau, and Brian M. Bideau, all of Chanute. Grandson Scott E. Bideau, his wife, Shelley Bideau, and Great Grandson Ethan Bideau, of Overland Park, Kansas; Granddaughter Sarah M. Cott and her husband, Kyle Cott, of Clay Center, Kansas; Granddaughter Jennifer E. Bideau of Kansas City, Missouri; Grandsons Heath Bideau of Lawrence, Kansas and Grandson Adam Bideau, Granddaughters Callan Bideau and Kenna Bideau, all of Chanute; and Grandson Jordan Bideau of Chanute.

He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, a 32nd Degree Mason - Fort Scott Consistory, Mirza Shrine, Cedar Lodge #103, A.F.& A.M., Elks Lodge 806, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Charter Member of Buffalo Historical Society, Chanute Historical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Disabled American Veterans, and served as a Precinct Committeeman for the Neosho County Republican Party for many years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Chanute. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel in Chanute.

Memorials in his name may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or Disabled American Veterans and may be left with the funeral home.

Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

“To leave a special message for the family on-line, visit www.PenwellGabelChanute.com”