Daniel (Dan) K. Edler

1940 - 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Daniel K. Edler of Cedarville, IL on March 25, 2025.  He passed peacefully in Freeport, IL surrounded by his loving family.  Daniel (Dan) was born Feb 14, 1940 and raised in Freeport, IL.  He was one of three sons of Robert Lloyd Edler and Ruth Edler (nee Bremer).

Dan was a career artist creating mainly blown and sculpted glass locally as well as nationally and even internationally.  He was the owner/operator of Edler Glass Studio in Cedarville, IL since 1974.  Dan's artistic talent was recognized early in life, and during high school his exceptional artistic talent in painting earned him a scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa where he pursued a BA in Art Education.  Upon graduation in 1962, he was a junior high art teacher in Springfield, IL.  The following summer, he enrolled in a program at the Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Craftsman where he studied clay and ceramics technology.  With this experience, he then began his MA program at the University of Iowa in 1963.  The focus for his MA was Architectural History with studio work in clay.  During this time, Dan was the Director of Visual Arts at Scattergood Friends, a private college prep school in West Branch, IA where he established the school's first clay studio as part of their art program.  Also, during this time he developed a small network of about 20 outlets selling his pottery.  While working on his MA, he married his undergrad college sweetheart Bobbie in 1964.

Dan continued after his MA to earn his MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in which he focused on the application of clay and ceramics in architectural design.  It was around this time that he began to experiment with glass.

In 1971, the then director of the Corning Museum of Glass who was familiar with Dan's work and passion for art, helped him arrange time as a guest artist with Stuart & Sons Crystal Co. in Stourbridge, England, a historic region for glassmaking.  Dan and Bobbie spent several months touring Europe in a Volkswagen bus that they bought in Germany while Dan completed this travel study program work in Stourbridge and other glassworks in Scotland, Netherlands, and Italy.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 1972, Dan received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts which helped him set up his first glass studio in Charleston, West Virginia.  In 1973, he joined the Fenton Art Glass Co. to help develop ideas for product lines.  However, he quickly realized that his artistic nature didn't lend itself to mass production.  Due to this realization, he then was determined to establish his own glass company producing one-of-a-kind pieces.  It was then in 1974 that Edler Glass Studio was established in Cedarville, IL.

Since 1974, Dan enjoyed success as a professional artist not only selling his work, but having his work promoted, published, and in many cases awarded in prominent galleries and shows around the country including major art hubs in NYC, Chicago, Southern and Northern CA, and South Florida among others.  His works have been praised throughout the years in numerous publications domestic and international, and his pieces have homes in multiple countries around the world.  At one point, Dan had a glass piece that was in the art collection in the U.S. White House during the term of a former U.S. president.  Locally, during his primary career years, his studio was open for those interested in purchasing direct from the showroom.  In addition to the showroom business, for over 25 years Dan would also open his furnace room annually as an "Open Studio" to the public to demonstrate glassblowing to hundreds of visitors.  Over the past several decades, many of his former students and admirers of his work would stay in touch with regular visits, calls and emails.  He was always passionate about art and as such never officially "retired" and continued to make glass up until 2020 and continued to paint until recently.

In the midst of an amazing career, Dan along with wife Bobbie raised 3 children; son David, and daughters Carina, and Cydney.

Dan is survived by his wife, Roberta "Bobbie" Edler of Cedarville; his son, David (Collin) Edler of Los Angeles, CA; his daughters Carina (Dustin) Najera of Normal, Il and Cydney Edler of Colorado Springs, CO.  His brother, Gordon (Jackie) Edler of Shannon, IL.  His legacy also includes 6 grandchildren, Vincent Najera, Thomas, Andrew and Ella Mae Edler; Gretchen and Sequoia Renshaw.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Edler.

There will be a service held on Saturday, April 12th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freeport.  A visitation will begin at 10am followed by a service at 11:30 all at Immanuel Lutheran Church.  His final resting place will be at Oakland Cemetery Freeport.  Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com .  A memorial has been designated in his name for the Cedarville Historical Society and the National Endowment for the Arts.