Edward Micus

Edward Kelly Micus, age 80, passed away of natural causes on February 10, 2024, at his home in Mankato, Minnesota. Surviving are his sons Mark Micus (Judy) of Oak Grove, Minnesota and William F. Micus, and Edward's former wife, Jean Laufersweiler Fortune, both of Mankato, and sisters Annamarie Duncan of Denver, Colorado, Maureen Micus Crisick (William) of Walnut Creek, California, and Mary Beth Hollenbeck Kelly (Robert) of Ridgeway, Colorado. Edward was preceded in death by his son Edward Nathan Micus, twin brother William Alexander Micus, parents Edward Vincent Micus and Ruth Flattery Micus, and grandparents Michael P. Flattery and Anna Kelly Flattery of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Edward was born in Chicago, Ill. in 1944 and attended Sacred Heart grade school and St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He served as an infantryman in the 12th Cavalry Division from 1966-1968, including ten months in Vietnam. While exposed to enemy fire, he continued to work as a radio operator, and received an Army Commendation Medal. He was point man in a riffle platoon, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for moving forward through enemy fire to reach and carry to safety two of his wounded comrades. Micus took Automatic rifle wounds to his abdomen and back in this firefight and was flown to Japan and later to Fitzsimmons Hospital for surgeries.

Edward married Jean Laufersweiler in 1969 in Fort Dodge. He completed his university studies with a B.A. and an M.A. in English at Minnesota State University, Mankato, while working as Assistant Director at the University's Center for Academic Success. He taught college courses in English and writing, and received numerous awards for his own poetry and fiction.

His work has been published in The Harvard Review, Laurel Review, New York Quarterly, North American Review, Seattle Review, Seneca Review, Verse, and Poetry, and many other journals. Edward was a past winner of the Loft-McKnight Poetry Award, a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, and won the New rivers Press New Voices Award, which published his collection of short stories, Landing Zones.

He was awarded the 2008 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize from Kent State University in Ohio, which included the publication of his book, Infirmary. Many of Edward's poems were prompted by his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam war. When Infirmary was chosen as the winner of the prize by Stephen Dunn, acclaimed American poet and winner of a Pulitzer Prize, Dunn wrote in his forward to the book that Edward's Vietnam poems "will take their places among the very best war poems." Lines from Rebecca Goldfarb (Edward's niece)

Edward possessed the remarkable ability to inspire others in their pursuits of writing, as well as in love. He was a colossal pillar of kindness, with a generosity of heart and an unbending belief in the happiness of others. He will be achingly missed and ever adored.

M-16 ROUND

Little gymnast, how you spin,

how the flesh applauds

when you tumble in,

ricochet off bone,

you're a perfect ten.

One blink in an ambushed eye

and you're already there.

You're the quiet

in the dead boy's ear.

Edward Micus