Freeport-Edward Herman Donselman, 68, of Freeport, died Monday, December 19, 2005, at his home.
Born November 30, 1937 in Milan, Indiana to Martin and Norma (Luke) Donselman, he grew up in Aurora, Indiana. He attended Purdue University before moving to Columbus, Ohio in 1959 and working for Westinghouse Electric Corp. for 17 years.
He married Karen Suzanne Dietz on May 7, 1960 at First Community Church in Columbus, Ohio. He received his degree from The Ohio State University in 1971, while working full time.
Ed and his family moved to Freeport in 1976 and he worked for Elkay Manufacturing Corp. until his retirement in January of 2004. During his engineering career, his name was on 21 patents and he was part of the team winning the 1993 Popular Mechanics Design & Engineering Award.
Ed loved gardening and was proud to be part of the first Gardens United Garden Walk in 2003. He also liked the beach, traveling, antiques, woodworking, and carving / painting life-size ducks.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, of 45 years; a daughter, Kimberly Ann (Marvin) Giesting of Connersville, Indiana; two grandsons, Logan Richard and Carson Edward Giesting; a son, Michael Edward (Deborah) Donselman of Lena; three step-grandsons, Ryan Thomas, Tyler Dale and Jordan James Daves; a sister, Dorothy (Stanley) Stringer of Falls Church, Virginia; a brother, Henry (Jane) Donselman of Murietta, California; several nieces and nephews; and his dog, Bentley.
Funeral service will be Thursday 10:30 a.m. at St. John United Church of Christ with Reverend Dr. Donnley Dutcher officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery & Mausoleum.
Visitation will be Wednesday 4 to 8 p.m. at St. John United Church of Christ.
Memorials have been established for FHN Memorial Hospice, St. John United Church of Christ, and the American Cancer Society.
Edward's family invites friends to extend condolences, share a memory, or light a candle in his honor at www.walkermortuary.com.