Donald Paul Edwards, 85, of Hillsboro, died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Funeral services will be held at Hough-Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro, on Tuesday, July 7, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. C.J. Dyas officiating. Visitation will take place from noon, until the time of services. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro.
Mr. Edwards was born on February 26, 1941, to Paul and Jessie (Johnson) Edwards, in Hillsboro. He graduated from Hillsboro High School and continued his family’s tradition of farming by becoming the fifth generation on the family farm near Coffeen. He married his beloved wife Brenda in 1984, at the United Methodist Church in Hillsboro; she survives. In their 42-year marriage, they were rarely apart. Mr. Edwards and his wife loved spending time together and enjoyed socializing with their friends, spending time with their family, dining out, celebrating the holidays and traveling.
He was bitten by the travel bug early in life, traveling with his parents to visit national parks and mountain towns each summer. He and his wife would return to favorite locations in Colorado and Wyoming making new memories and adding to his knowledge of the west, rodeos and American history. Meandering trips through the south ending in Florida were also trips they enjoyed year after year.
Mr. Edwards had a quick wit and kept family and friends on their toes with his liberal use of sarcasm delivered with a twinkle in his eye. After retiring from farming, he loved driving throughout the countryside surveying the crops and keeping up on local happenings. He was an animal lover and always had a dog at his side. He took great pleasure in watching his grandchildren grow up and being the hub of information between his children’s families; he was very proud of each of them. Their Grampy will be deeply missed.
In addition to his wife Brenda, Mr. Edwards is survived by his sons, Cliff (Amy) Edwards, of Springfield, Wade Edwards of Coffeen and Rodger (Amy) Kutemeier of Winter Garden, FL; his daughters, Lea Ann (Brian) Talley and Kim (Mark) Leible, both of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren, Andrew Leible, Vaughn Edwards, Chandler Talley, Anna (Collin) Kessinger, Eden Edwards, Valarie Kutemeier, Tom Edwards, Cate (Griffin) Wright and Sabrina Kutemeier.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother Robert Edwards and his grandson, Ben Leible.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hillsboro Health Foundation or to Celebrate Recovery c/o Hillsboro Free Methodist Church.
Hough-Dean is assisting the family. Please visit www.houghdeanfh.com to leave online condolences for the family.
