Edward John Wakefield, Sr.

Jody Hane2021-07-27T09:42:01-05:00

Name: Edward John Wakefield, Sr.
Location of Birth: Ball Club, Minnesota
Date of Birth: August 31, 1941
Date of Death: May 15, 2017 (75 years old)
Parents: Joseph Wakefield and Agnes (Rafinski) Wakefield
High School and Class: 1961
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Highest Rank: MM 1 (Machinist's Mate Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Military Highlights:
Edward served in the United States Navy for ten years as a 1st Class Machinist Mate on the USS Dyess in Vietnam and all along the United States coast.

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Civilian Life:
Edward was one of 14 children, orphaned at 11 years old, and homeless at 14 when he ran away from abusive foster care.

He was humble, wise, dedicated, strong, talented, hard-working, and a fighter. A policeman encouraged him to quit street fighting and come to his gym to take up boxing. While going to school, he was Golden Gloves boxing bantamweight champion three years in a row, winning 70 of 76 fights. He made in alone and graduated from high school in 1961.

Edward met Carol Pimentel in Massachusetts while on tour and they were married November 20, 1965.

He was a supervisor with a Chief Engineer's Grade A license at Minnesota Power, Edward retired after 22 years to fish, hunt, race, plow, groom the lawn, help anyone, share anything--especially good advice and his amazing humor--and be a really great dad.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol and is survived by two sons, Edward, Jr. and Michael; a grandson, Brett; a great-grandson, Owen; a brother, Dennis (Marge); and sisters, Florence Johnson and Doris Groce.

Edward died at his home in Calumet, Minnesota. He was cremated and at his request, there were no services. Edward was really grateful to everyone who came from Itasca Hospice for their very personal care.

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