Ed was born and raised on a farm near Steen, a small community in the very southwest corner of Minnesota. Oldest son in a family with eight siblings his elementary years were spent attending a small country school, so small that he was the only student in his class!

High school years were busy with sports, church, and leadership in Future Farmers of America front and center. He served as President of the FFA chapter for two years and also served as the District Vice President.

Most important during those years was his introduction to classmate Sue, who became his spouse and lifelong love. They have three grown children (Edward, Tim and Alyssa), accompanying spouses (Erin, Julia and Mike), and six lovable grandkids.

Undergraduate work at Northwestern College of Iowa culminated in a BA degree in Psychology/Sociology and a job working in a residential setting with delinquent adolescents. It was during this time that a career in helping others came into focus.

Most of Ed’s career was spent leading non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting adults with significant cognitive impairments in employment settings, first in northern Minnesota and later in the metro area. Highlights included earning a Masters degree in Human Resource Management from Moorhead State University, participating in a national demonstration project focused on employment and later leading that statewide effort for Minnesota. The last twenty-eight years of his career was spent as the Executive Director of ESR, Inc. based in Stillwater providing services in Washington County (MN) and St. Croix County (WI) prior to retiring a few years ago.

Ed is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater. He has served on the governing board of the church, chaired and currently serves on the Finance Ministry Team, and is the President of church corporate entity. Rotary experience began in 1997 and continues today with Stillwater Sunrise. Ed led the process to obtain and complete two district grant efforts in Kenya in support of a school for orphans and to bring water to a remote village in the northwest quadrant of the state of Pokot. He served as Club President in 20/21, surviving the year of Covid!

Spare time is spent golfing, fishing, traveling and watching grandkids grow up.