Edmund Latham

Edmund “Ed” Latham, a longtime Webster City Police officer, died at his home after a long illness on Sept. 6.

A native of Fort Dodge, Latham enlisted in the U.S. Navy following his 1957 graduation from Fort Dodge Senior High and served four years aboard an aircraft carrier. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a demolition specialist with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1960 to 1963. He lived in Germany until 1968 with his wife, Inge Lummer, and daughter, Michelle Ann.

When Latham returned to the United States in 1968, he joined the Webster City Police Department as a patrolman. He was promoted from senior patrolman to sergeant in July 1972.

Latham was sworn in as the city’s Chief of Police on June 25, 1973.

Latham married Ann Pilcher in 1983.

In his career, Latham spent more than 19 years on Webster City’s police force, including 10 years as a detective and as chief for 4 and a half years. He retired from the Webster City Police Department in August 1987.

In 1988, Latham ran for Hamilton County Sheriff and he later served as a police officer in Stanhope and a part-time chief of police in Duncombe.

After Latham’s retirement from law enforcement, he worked as an electrician and maintenance engineer until fully retiring in 2010.

Latham is survived by his wife, Ann; sister Donna Wingert, of Fort Dodge; daughters Michelle Ann Hooker and Tanja Lee Gross; stepchildren Tim Pilcher, Toby Pilcher and Robin Myers; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

For information on Latham and his memorial service, see his funeral notice on page 3.