Edward Joseph Salzsieder's Obituary
EDWARD J. SALZSIEDER [General Ed, Fast Eddie], 81, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully at his home – his castle – on Friday, April 23, 2021.
He was born September 27, 1939 in Oshkosh, the first son of Edward O. and Cecilia (Kempinger) Salzsieder. As a child, he attended St John's and Sacred Heart grade schools. A 1957 graduate of Oshkosh High School, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from UW-Madison in 1963, and was immediately drafted into the Army. Upon completion of basic training he married Karen Jackson from Green Bay, with whom he created a family that brought him much joy and pride.
From 1963-1965 Ed was in the Army Chemical Corps at Edgewood Arsenal, MD. In 1965 he got a job at Dupont “mixing paints”, or at least that is what he said. He attended law school at night at Toledo Law School, graduating in 1969. Ed and Karen and their young children moved back to Oshkosh that same year. After passing the Bar Exam he became a public defender and eventually opened his own law practice.
Ed loved Oshkosh and thought there was no better place to live in the whole world. He enjoyed his own “Jellystone Park” as he referred to his backyard and seeing family and friends enjoying it with its cherry trees, swimming pool, garden, and plenty of room for the kids and grandkids to play. For many years he and Karen were avid golfers and his favorite place to play was the Oshkosh Municipal Course. He also loved his poker group; they had many years of fun debating politics and eating out together at their favorite local spots. Lately he loved playing cribbage and always wanted you to sit down and play a game. Ed always loved good jokes but could never tell one. He believed in always learning as long as you were alive.
Another of his pastimes was keeping up with where his four children traveled to and lived once they began their own families. Although he and Karen did visit their kids once they moved out of Oshkosh, he mostly became an armchair traveler, consulting his maps, atlas and globe to see and make notes about where they all were.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Karen, and his brother, Norbert. He is survived by his youngest brother, Matt; his four children: Stephanie Weisse (Ed), Joe (Laura), Amy (Seppi Gorecki), Jonathan (Lisa); his 12 grandchildren: Edward [Jack], Jonathon, Lydia, Abigail, Michael, Courtney, Hailee, Case, Emily, Molli, Maddie, Jonathan [JT]; and four great grandchildren: Brianna, Robbie, Oliver [the Secretary] and Amelia.
Funeral Services held Friday, April 30 at St Raphael's
Rosary: 9AM
Visitation: 9:30-11AM
Mass: 11AM
Interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery 3:30PM
The family would like to especially thank Ed’s next door neighbors – the Brockman family and the Patterson family. Without their help, Ed could not have lived his wish of remaining in his home these past four years since the passing of his wife, Karen. Additionally, many thanks to the home care nurses, Tracey and Sue, who helped Ed tremendously these last several years.
Ed was a staunch believer in positive brainwaves. “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
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