Ed was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Walmore, NY and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, NY.He overcame many obstacles throughout his education. Since German was still spoken at home, Ed had to learn English when he started school, and he was the first in his family to graduate from high school.It was while attending Trinity Lutheran School that he first felt the call to become a pastor. He graduated from the former Concordia Junior College in Fort Wayne, IN and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO and was ordained in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport in 1961.
Ed served rural parishes in Ontario, Canada, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.He also served many congregations during vacancies, twice serving a dual parish as well as his own dual parish in South Dakota, driving 150 miles each Sunday for worship.Traveling between churches led to a number of adventures not described in seminary.On one of his long trips he hit a steer lying in the road that had just been hit by an oncoming car, and the steer's horn pierced the radiator.Another time, a surprise blizzard caught Ed and Carol while driving home.Ed's final call was to St. John's Lutheran Church, Hastings, IA from where he retired in 2000.He continued to serve vacancies through 2016, including St. Paul, St. John's and Bethany Lutheran in Omaha.
In Ontario he met his future wife, Carol ne Hoover. They were married August 13, 1966 after a long-distance courtship between South Dakota and Toronto, Canada.Before cell phones and Skype, the courtship was conducted via written letters.Their daughter Joy, a physician, resides in Ann Arbor MI with her husband Tim Peterson and grandsons Matthew and David.Their son Patrick, a neuroscientist, resides in Allentown, PA.
Ed was known to family and friends for his quirky sense of humor (he loved puns), and he loved to tell stories and jokes to anyone who would listen.He enjoyed observing nature, and with Carol he visited many national parks and tended a large flower garden.He tracked woodpeckers at their bird feeders and recorded each hummingbird visit in a small notebook.
During visits to family Ed enjoyed joking with his siblings, nieces and nephews. He was a gentle, loving spouse, father and grandfather.Ed loved the Lord with a child-like and yet profound faith and served Him with humility and joy throughout his life.
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