Edwin A. RADEWALD

3 DEC 1924 - 28 JAN 2009

• BIRTH: 3 DEC 1924, Niles Berrien, MI
• DEATH: 28 JAN 2009, Benton Center, Berrien County, MI

• MARRIAGE: 4 FEB 1951, Baroda, Berrien County, MI

INDEX

[N20671] Edwin J. Radewald, Jr

Birth 3 Dec 1924
Niles, Berrien County, MI

Death 28 Jan 2009 (aged 84)
Benton Center, Berrien County, MI

Burial
Silverbrook Cemetery
Niles, Berrien County, MI
Memorial ID 33398684

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EDWIN A. RADEWALD JR.
Dec. 3, 1924 - Jan. 28, 2009
NILES - Prominent Berrien County fruit and vegetable grower, Edwin Radewald Jr., 84, lifelong resident of the Radewald family farm on M-140, Niles, died at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2009 in Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, MI, following an illness. Edwin was born on December 3, 1924, in the farm home to Edwin and Florence (Knott) Radewald Sr. He graduated from Niles High School in
1941 and attended Michigan State University for two years. On February 4, 1951 he married Virginia Marie Totzke, who survives. In 1948, after the sudden death of their father, Edwin and his brother, Stanley formed the partnership of Radewald Farms. In 1965, they built a packinghouse and cold storage on the farm. They were the 1981 recipients of the Master Farmer Award of the Great Lakes Vegetable Growers Association. Ed was a lifelong member of Saint John's United Church of Christ, Niles, serving on the council and its president for nine years, and chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee. He was also a life member of the Michigan Horticultural Society, serving as a director for six years and president in
1972. He was a member of the Great Lakes Vegetable Growers Association, and the Berrien County Farm Bureau. He served as a director of the North American Strawberry Growers Association, the Saint Joseph Valley Soil Conservation Board, the Berrien Township Board of Appeals, and was treasurer of the Fairland School Board for 12 years. He served as supervisor of the Berrien County Community Garden, was a 4-H leader for 10 years, and a director of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation. Ed loved John Deere tractors, restoring several antique tractors, and was a charter member of the Michiana Two Cylinder Club. He was a life member, volunteer, and strong supporter of the Berrien County Youth Fair, and was a life member of the Michigan State University Alumni Association. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother, Stanley. Surviving family includes his wife, Virginia; their children, Marie (John) Parsey of Phoenix, AZ, Lois (Fred) Thurnherr of Holland, NY, Jean (Curt) Loutzenhiser of South Bend, IN, and Vern (Laura) Radewald of Hopkins, MN; grandchildren, Stephen and Carolyn Parsey, Emily Thurnherr, and Karen and Brent Radewald; step-grandchidlren, Joshua Loutzenhiser and Jessice Tysman; and four step-great-grandchildren; and Ed's sister-in-law, Barbara Radewald; niece, Diane Radewald, and nephew, Donald Radewald. The funeral service for Edwin Radewald will
be at 11 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2009, in Satin John's Untied Church of Christ with the Rev. Kyle Gardner of the church officiating. Committal service will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Contributions in memory of Ed Radewald may be made to Saint John's United Church of Christ, or the Berrien County
Youth Fair.