He was born in Amboy on September 30, 1944, the son of James E. and Rita K. (Henkel) McLaughlin. He was a 1962 graduate of Amboy High School. He married Kathleen A. Madden on February 17, 1968, at St. Theresa’s Church in Earlville.
He farmed in May Township all his life. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Maytown, St. Patrick’s Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, Lee County Farm Bureau, and was a trustee of May Township.
Survivors include his wife of Amboy; one son, Jim (Stephanie) of Amboy; two daughters, Marie of Seneca and Rebecca of Oswego; three grandchildren, Mitchell and Madelyn McLaughlin and Rita C.R. McLaughlin; one sister, Jeanne Ladzinski of Peru; two brothers, Stephen (Chris) of Hillsboro and Douglas (Brenda) of Sublette; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Margaret Meese and Mary Kathryn McLaughlin.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Cemetery in Maytown.
In lieu of flowers, Ed asked that a gift be given to the next fundraiser or to a needy family in his name.
