Edward”Eddie” Atkinson II
1958 – 2022
Dubuque, Iowa

Eddie was born on December 30, 1958 in St. Louis, MO the son of Edward B Atkinson Sr and Peggy Sue Rommelman Atkinson. Bruce and Peggy moved the family from Missouri to Louisiana in 1973. By chance Brenda bought her first car from Bruce in 1978. Brenda later discovered she and Eddie’s sister Lisa would be attending the same high school together. Lisa and Brenda met and became instant friends. Eddie spotted a picture of Brenda in Lisa’s room and said “I want to meet her.” Lisa introduced them in January of 1979. They were inseparable and knew they were meant to be together. After a short two-months Eddie said “you pick the date and I’ll pick the time.” They were married on June 29, 1979.

Eddie built houses for many years and decided at age 30 to go back to school to get his drafting degree. After school he worked for Poulan Weedeater in Shreveport, LA for a few years. Eddie was offered a job in Iowa and moved the family from Shreveport, Louisiana to Dubuque in Iowa in 1994 where he started work for ERTL and then in 1998 went to work for First Gear.

Eddie enjoyed camping the last few years with Brenda in their campers “Loretta and Maggie” They took the grandkids on a special camping trip every year. Eddie was always around to help out with fixing things, remodeling or giving advice to his kids. He was an amazing craftsman and anything Brenda envisioned he made happen, which included crafts, especially ones with spray paint and glitter. He completed his last craft with the family minutes before passing. In October of 2021 Eddie finally got his little yellow 2 seater car named “June”.

Eddie fought a courageous 15 month battle from Acute Myeloid Leukemia but was unable to overcome complications from Graft Vs Host Disease (GVHD) caused from the Stem Cell Transplant he received on June 3, 2021. Edward B. “Eddie” Atkinson II, 63, of Dubuque Iowa passed away peacefully with family by his side on May 17, 2022 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years Brenda, two children Trey (Amber) Atkinson, Chandra (Aaron) Kono, six grandchildren Brooklynn (14), Bryce (13), Jersey (12), Bristol (9), Liberty (4), and Charlie (4). His mother-in-law Lavonne (Rick) Thompson; one sister Barbara (Ray) Lambert; brother-in-law Dane (Susan) Murphy along with many nieces and nephews.

 He was proceeded in death by his parents, two sisters; Lisa Lee and Lori Forbes, maternal and paternal grandparents.