Edward Carnoali Obituary

EDWARD GUY CARNOALI II Edward Guy Carnoali II passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025, at his home in Adair, IA. He was 58 years old. Eddie was born on October 20, 1966, in Kansas City, KS, to Edward Carnoali I and Patricia Magers. He grew up in Atchison and Leavenworth, KS, and Independence, MO. Eddie graduated from Truman High School in Independence in 1985 and attended Concordia College in Seward, NE, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1989. Eddie married Jean Heerten on May 14, 1989. They have two children, Johnathon and Mary. As their dad, he was extremely proud of both of them. Eddie's interests in life encompassed a wide range of subjects. He enjoyed languages and learning, especially philosophies and literature. He loved reading, discussing, and finding meaning in poetry of all kinds, from the ancient Persian poet Rumi to Emily Dickinson to the postmodern Beatnik poets of the 1950s. In the past few years, he had found a love for travel and new places, again seeing the world through his unique perspective. Eddie found joy in the pursuit of knowledge and was equally comfortable being the center of attention in a room as a storyteller or spending hours of quiet contemplation among his books. The difficult part of writing an obituary for Eddie is that he was too big a person to be summed up in a few short sentences. He leaves so much behind to remember, sift through, seek to understand, to pursue but not to catch, finding the joy in the journey. There is a hole in the hearts of those of us who knew him, but we are also left with joyful memories of the short time we were blessed to share. Eddie is preceded in death by his mother, Pat (Magers) Shanes; two brothers, Todd and Bart Carnoali; and an infant son. He is survived by his wife, Jean Carnoali of Adair, IA; son Johnathon Carnoali (Krysten Piano) of Yelm, WA; daughter Mary Carnoali (Rynn Kerkhove) of Granada, Spain; his father Edward Carnoali I and stepmother Linda of Leavenworth, KS; brother Jeff Carnoali (Mindy Shouse-Carnoali) of Independence, MO; sister Sonia Carnoali Shanks (Rick Shanks) of Leavenworth, KS; and so many other friends and family. Per his request, a private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. Eddie will be buried at Sugar Creek Cemetery in Rushville, MO. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for future designation and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. box 523 Atlantic, Iowa 50022. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair is caring for the Carnoali family at this time.