Edwin L. Lacina

Lt. Col. Edwin L. Lacina, USAF (ret), 82 Edwin L. Lacina died on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at the Iowa River Hospice Home with his loving son by his side. Funeral services for Edwin will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Mitchell Family Home with Pastor Greg Ellcey officiating. Public visitation will be held one hour prior to services. He will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens following the funeral. Memorial contributions may be directed in Edwins name to the Iowa River Hospice Home. For further information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Edwin and his family. Edwin L. Lacina was born on March 30, 1934 in Gilman, Iowa, the son of Edwin and Helen (Mattney) Lacina. He graduated from Gilman Consolidated High School in 1953. In February 1954, he joined the United States Air Force and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program. In 1955, he was qualified as a pilot flying heavy transport aircraft. In 1956, he married Ardell Libberton. They had one son, Steven. The two later divorced. Edwin flew C-124 Globemaster and C-141 Starlifter aircraft assigned to the Military Airlift Command and had duty tours at Travis AFB, CA; Hickam AFB, HI; and Dover AFB, Del. Mission was global support of military and humanitarian needs throughout the world. As an Aircraft Commander and Instructor/Flight Examiner, he flew some 10,000 hours and saw many different countries. In 1967, he was assigned to the 627th Military Airlift Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England. There he served as Chief of the Command Post and later, Squadron Commander. Mission was to service and expedite movement of transiting air transport missions to include refueling, maintenance, cargo and passenger handling. From 1970-71, he was assigned to Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam. His task as Base Operations Officer was supervising operational runways, taxiways and ramp areas to accomplish assigned wartime missions. In 1971, he was assigned to HQ Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, IL. His duty was Chief, Special Projects Branch, DCS Operations in charge of teaching anti-hijack procedures. In 1974, he retired from the Air Force in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. Awards include the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Outstanding Unit awards. He later worked for the USAF under Civil Service in Airfield Operations until final retirement in 1986. After retirement, he settled in Gladbrook, Iowa. He is survived by his longtime companion, Leta Lacina of Gladbrook; his son Steven (Catherine) Lacina of Waite, ME; two granddaughters: Grace (Joshua) Clark of Gloucester, VA and Victoria (Tyson Hammen) Lacina of Raleigh, NC; four great-grandchildren: Ian, McKayla, Catherine and Emilyanne; three sisters: Mary Mundel of Cedar Rapids, Helen Stewart and Judith Kent, both of Marshalltown. He was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers: Gene, Lowell, and Larry.