Edmund Victor "Mert" Lance was born November 30, 1929 in Brainard, Nebraska, the son of Joseph J. and Antonia (Coufal) Lanc and passed away in Omaha, Nebraska on March 10, 2014 at the age of 84 years, 3 months, 10 days. Ed attended Brainard Country School and then Seward High School and earned a GED in 1982. He entered the military in 1946, serving in the U.S. Army. On October 29, 1949, Ed was united in marriage to Mildred Ann Bargman, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Larry, Linda, Les, Lori and Eddie. They lived all of their married life in the Seward area. Ed was a bricklayer for numerous companies and was a member of the Bricklayers Union Local #1, Omaha. Other memberships included St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Seward, a life member of VFW Post #4755 ~ Seward and a founding member of the Seward Polka Dotts. Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Antonia; his son, Les Lance in 2013; sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Frank Kadavy; brother, Joe B. Lance. Survivors cherishing Ed's memory include his wife, Millie, Seward; children and spouses, Larry and Shirley Lance, Crete, Linda Jensen, Seward and significant friend Dave Babcock, Lincoln, Linda Birkes-Lance, Seward, Lori and Dennis Pierce, Keller, TX, Eddie and Robin Lance, LaVista;15 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, one great great grandson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Georgia Knisley, Seward Evelyn and Norman Brown, Fort Myers, Florida; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, LaVerne Hyde and Deloris and Bob Wilke, both Staplehurst, Louis Kadavy, Milford; nieces and nephews and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers, and memories of life shared with Ed.