Edblad, Edward Eben 1925-2002

VAUGHAN, EDBLAD, OPSAND, HOLDEN, WRIGHT, HANSON, AMUNDSON

Posted By: IA Gen Web Volunteer
Date: 7/12/2010 at 18:59:18

Funeral services for Edward Edblad were held Friday, October 4, 2002, at 12 p.m. in the Marion Lutheran Church at Gunder. The Reverend Marshall E. Hahn officiated. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Edward Eben Edblad, the son of Eben F. Edblad and Sylvia Mae Vaughan, was born March 30, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. He passed away at his home in Wonewoc, Wisconsin on Tuesday, September 24, 2002.

Ed is survived by his daughters, Susan Holden of Phoenix, AZ, Rita Wright of Wonewoc, WI, and Lois Edblad of Sausalito, CA, son-in-law, Terry Wright, grandchildren, Kevin, Staci, Ashlie and Kelli Wright and Amara Edblad; sisters, June (Wilfred) Norman of Cambridge, MN and Luella and husband Paul of Brentwood, CA, sister-in-law Norma (Art) Amundson of Clermont, IA, brother-in-law Warren (Dee) Burstrom of Freeport, IL and a very special friend whom he called "brother", Herb Marshall, and his wife Janet Lou of Mesa, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth, who died June 8, 2001 and his parents.

Ed was baptized at the Swedish Lutheran Church in Chicago and was confirmed as an adult. From childhood on his favorite summers were spent with his Grandmother on her farm in Cambridge, MN. It was there that Ed developed a love of mechanics; his uncle Arthur taught him the trade. He understood engines and cars quite well and enjoyed working on vehicles for most of his life. During these visits Ed's relatives recognized another true talent, the ability to tell incredible bedtime stories to the rest of the grandchildren. Ed continued this remarkable and memorable ability throughout his life.

His first job was delivering hand bills while he was in Junior High, and then he began painting homes. During high school, Ed continued to paint homes and also delivered the Chicago Daily New. He graduated from Thornton-Fractional Township High School in Calumet City, IL in 1942. Upon graduation, he joined the Carpenter's Union until 1943 and then worked on a farm for nine months.

In 1944 Ed was drafted into the Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He went through Aviation Ordinance and Aerial Gunnery training until they realized that he was too tall for fighter planes. Ed worked during leave at lumber mills in Oregon and at Pillsbury Flour Mill. He spent his remaining time on a ship traveling throughout Asia.

When the war ended, Ed moved to the northern woods of Gheen, MN, to live in the family lumber camp. He worked for eight years to help build the Edblad Lumber Company and purchased a semi truck to begin the process of hauling and selling the lumber.

In 1954 Ed moved to California and lived with his sister, Luella and husband Paul, in Daly City. He worked for nine months at Windler Tanks and moved back to the Chicago area in 1955 when his uncle Albert Larson asked him to join his plastering company as an apprentice. Ed also began attending a two-year plastering trade school program through the union and became a master plasterer.

In 1955 Ed met Ruth* on a blind (bowling) date. Shortly after, he developed an interest in baseball that did not last and in golf that remained. Prior to that time, his sporting interests included hunting (while younger) and fishing.

Ed and Ruth were married on October 29, 1955 in the Marion Lutheran Church, Gunder, IA. They purchased their first home in Niles, IL in 1956. In 1962, Ed started his own business, Tri-E-Plastering. In 1965, they moved to Park Ridge, IL. They purchased 80 acres in Wonewoc, WI for recreational purposes in 1973 and started building a vacation home there. In 1975, Ed moved his family and spent his remaining years there. Forever fascinated with airplanes, in 1978, he took a ground school class with his daughter, Susan, which he enjoyed a great deal.

His volunteer life included being a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, IL where he served on many committees for almost twenty years. Ed and Ruth were also member of Bible Study and their bowling team. During this time, he was also on the Board of Directors since 1956 for the Lutheran Day Nursery in Chicago, an inner-city day care. After moving to Wonewoc in 1975, he became a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wonewoc and was an active church member. Ed and Ruth were also the Lutheran Brotherhood Communicators.

He will be remembered most for being quite the character who could say a lot without saying anything, his hearty laugh, dry sense of humor, ability to live life on the less serious side and experience immense enjoyment when he got caught teasing others. Ed will also be remembered for his passion with owning high performance cars, and for his extreme love of playing cards. For his last several years, he was a regular at the senior meals in which a card game would often emerge. Ed was a frequent member of many senior citizen card playing groups (Reedsburg, Rocksprings, Sauk Prairie, Hillpoint, Kendall and Wilton) and truly felt as if he experienced the greatest tragedy of all times when he was unable to attend a game. He developed fond and memorable relationships with his card partners. In addition to special friends and family members, Ed had incredibly special relationships with his grandchildren whom he treasured a great deal. These relationships meant the world to him and he was truly ecstatic to be in the company of loved ones.

Casket bearers were Harold Hanson, Enoch Hanson, Albert Hanson, David Amundson, Steven Amundson, Kevin Wright, Terry Wright.

Honorary casket bearers were Bruce Amundson, Paul Hanson, Frank Burstrom, Mike Norman, Mark Norman.

*Submitter notes: Mother has written at the bottom of this obit the following: Ruth Opsand, daughter of Harold and Gunille (Wettleson) Opsand. Ruth's sisters were Velma, Mrs. Morris Amundson; Alma, Mrs. Bernard Hanson; Norma, Mrs. Art Amundson.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from my mother's obituary collection. Posted for genealogical purposes, contributor is not related.