Edwin Anthony “Ed” Blochowiak, 66, of Shawnee, passed away Monday, October 24, 2016, at home.

He was born July 30, 1950, in Shawnee to Casimir and Mary Klish Blochowiak. He was raised in the Shawnee community, where he attended St. Benedict Grade School and Shawnee High School.

Ed served in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1973. One year of that service was on tour at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam Conflict, where he was assigned with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing Gunfighters.

Ed started his career as a photographer for The Shawnee News-Star on November 19, 1973, just six days out of the Air Force. During his time at the newspaper, he earned one Photo of the Year award from The Associated Press, two Photo of the Year awards from the Oklahoma Press Association, more than two dozen first-place awards and more than 100 awards from various contests. In 2014, he was inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame. Ed retired on September 7, 2016, after 43 years at the newspaper.

In September 2016, Ed was recognized by the Shawnee Fire Department with an honorary firefighter designation.

Ed was a big OU fan, a big Doobie Brothers fan, despised country music, and loved flamingos.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his two sons, Andy Blochowiak of Oklahoma City and Scott Blochowiak of Osan Air Base, South Korea, his sister, Mary Ann Blochowiak of Edmond, his three brothers, William and Brenda Blochowiak of Meeker, Richard and Nancy Blochowiak of McLoud and Charles Blochowiak of Ponca City, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Shawnee. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.