Visitation

Apr 10, 2020

Biography

He was born March 29, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. Edward was a World war II veteran of the China/Burma/India Theater where he taught Radar and Loran to the pilots who made the bombing run over Japan in Jimmy Doolittle’s Squadron. Loran was top secret at the time. Edward nearly lost his life when returning home onboard an aircraft carrier from infectious hepatitis derived from food he had eaten in Kunming, China. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and obtained employment at RR Donnelley and Sons Company. Starting as a darkroom technician, he rose through the ranks to Corporate Staff. He was a close friend of Gaylord Donnelley, the founder’s grandson. Gaylord always regarded him as his “family photographer” and would often fly him down to North Carolina to what Gaylord referred to as his home at “the pond”. Edward’s interest in photography had begun as a youth when he would take pictures at a wedding, develop them in his homemade darkroom in his parent’s basement and then try to sell the photographs to the wedding party. Unlike today, when you contract for photography, he had to get to the wedding party to sell his photographs before any other photographer. Edward retired from RR Donnelley after 45 years and was able to pursue his love of photography as a hobby. His other hobby was his family. Three years ago, he moved into the Lexington of Lombard where he received exceptional care from the staff, especially from a nurse named Maria. She was his girl and is grieving his passing. Edward was a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 65 in Wood Dale for many years. He was a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Wood Dale since 1957. For the past twenty years, Edward’s caregivers were his son, Robert and daughter in law, Linda of Downers Grove. They were his “go to” for everything from shopping to doctor visits. They shared a closeness to the end as he faded away before their eyes and will be truly missed. Along with Robert and Linda he is survived by his son, Richard and his wife, Nancy, 4 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Edward was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; son, Roger; parents, Stanislaw and Helena; a brother, Henry and a sister who passed away in childhood. Arrangements were entrusted to The Oaks Funeral Home 630-250-8588 or www.oaksfh.com

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