Ward F. Redshaw

Ward Redshaw, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 28, 2009 in Las Cruces, surrounded by family, following a long illness. He has now been reunited with the love of his life, his wife Margaret (Macpherson) Redshaw. Mr. Redshaw was born in Great Falls, Montana. He was the son of Fred and Elvina Redshaw and was raised in the western United States and Canada. He is survived by son, Neil and his wife, Tara and their children, Benjamin and Alexandra and her husband James Gilligan. Ward's eldest daughter Barbara Redshaw lived near him in Las Cruces and was a loving caregiver for Ward and his late wife, Margaret Redshaw. His daughter Janet and her husband Dennis Prochnow; granddaughter Heather and husband Dale Kuykendall and great grandson Justin and great granddaughter Brynn; grandson Emrys and his wife, Jessica, and great grandson, Brody; grandson Lukas Prochnow; two granddaughters, Adelina and Grace, and great grandson, Honor; son Mark and his wife, Margaret (Meg), granddaughter Carly and grandsons Josh, Cody, and Ian. Ward Redshaw entered the U.S. Army in 1942 when he was 18. He was a Japanese prisoner of war from1942-1945; fought on Bataan with G Co. 31st Infantry Regiment; was captured on Corregidor with the 228th Signal Corps in 1942 and was repatriated September 20, 1945, following the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan (he witnessed the atomic bomb as he had been transported to Japan to work in the mines 20 miles away from Nagasaki). He retired from the Army as a Major in 1963 after 22 years of service; however, he had many health issues due to his imprisonment that followed him throughout his later years. During Mr. Redshaw's middle years, he founded and operated Redshaw Audio-Visual in Libertyville, Illinois for nearly 15 years. He made many friends in the audio-visual business was a leader in the industry. Ward and Margaret Redshaw retired to Las Cruces, New Mexico due to Ward's health issues and it allowed them to be closer to their children and grandchildren. The warm weather also allowed Margaret to pursue her love of golf. Ward was active in the St Paul's Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, the Masons and Scottish Rite during his adult life. He was also active in the Bataan Veterans Organization and made many friends with New Mexican ex-POWs who had also been imprisoned in the Philippines and Japan, as well as their families. He and his wife loved their miniature poodle, Coco, and she kept him company after the death of his wife. Our gratitude goes out to his doctors in Las Cruces and at the VA in El Paso and Las Cruces, Mesilla Valley Hospice, Alpha Nurses, and Home Instead and to Ward's friends and caring neighbors. Our family is grateful for all Ward's neighbors and friends. A service celebrating Ward's life will be held Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 12 noon at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 225 West Griggs Avenue (Alameda and Griggs), Las Cruces, New Mexico with Pastor James Large officiating. In lieu of donations, please send a contribution in Ward's name to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 East Montana Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88005. His request for cremation has been honored. PDF Printable Version