Ede, Norman

=Norman Laurence (Larry) Ede, age 73 years, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 in St Joseph’s Hospital after a long 6 year battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Larry was born June 27, 1937 in Montreal, Quebec. He graduated from McGill University, Montreal in 1961 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical). He worked as Project Engineer for Canadian International Paper in Temiskaming, Quebec 1961 to 1964. He moved to Fort William in 1964 with his first wife Sandra (nee Lillie) and four young children to become what was then the youngest ever Electrical Superintendent with Great Lakes Paper, 1965 to 1970. From 1970 to 1974 he was Chief of the Electrical-Mechanical Department for V. B. Cook Co. Ltd. From 1974 to 1990 he was President of his own company N. L. Ede Limited, Consulting Engineers, doing work mainly in the grain elevators and mines especially Placer Dome in Red Lake.

He was very active in the community until his retirement. He was Chairman of the Lakehead Chapter of the APEO and served for 4 years on the Provincial Council of the APEO. He was in Advisory Committees for Electronic and Electrical Technology at Confederation College and Chairman of the Industrial Advisory Committee to the School of Engineering at Lakehead University. He was a director with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, belonged to the Fort William Rotary Club for many years and volunteered in the Juvenile Diversion Program.

He retired at the age of 53 but remained very active. He traveled extensively with Paula and was very proud of the fact that he had visited all seven continents. Much of the travel revolved around his lifelong passion for trains. He also designed and built his dream home after he retired including a large landscaped yard with hand built rock terraces. The top floor of the house was his pride and joy, a 900 sq. ft. model train room/museum.

Larry enjoyed hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, canoeing, gardening and actively pursued many hobbies – model trains, stamp and coin collecting and genealogy.

He was definitely a family man and was very proud of all his children and grandchildren. He loved all the family gatherings and socializing with friends, especially the “wine group” and his Canadian and American train friends. Everyone knew when it was “wine time”.

Larry was a man of many talents and his vast knowledge and expertise will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Paula Ede (nee Pehkonen); daughters: Kathy (Don) Onyschuk, Karen Bester, Kerri-Anne Ede (Fitz Laws) in Ottawa, Kennifer (Mark) Oleksuk , Kristen Ede in Toronto; son Kevin (Katie) Ede in Calgary; step-children: Jeremy Goth (Dr. Nicole Chandler) in Campbell River BC and Dr. Kathryn Goth (Neil Sproule); 17 grandchildren: Kylie Sutton (Rob Doyle), Kristopher, Scott and Danny Sutton; Skye, Jasmine and Justine Bester; Jesse, Katie and Jamie Laws; Joshua Oleksuk; Dena, Carly, Emily and Alex Ede; Isabella Ede; Avery Sproule and one great-grandchild Owen Doyle.

Also survived by his brother Warren Ede (Johanna) in Ottawa; sister Valery Hill (Colin) in Halifax; nephew Oliver Hill (Carla); niece Amanda Hill; great-nephews Shane and Lucas Hill; great-nieces Carey Hill and Kylee Fraser; mother-in-law Hilkka Pehkonen; brother-in-law Dr. Raimo Pehkonen (Marja) and family.

Predeceased by his parents William Ruggles and Eileen Hazelton Ede, niece Sarah Hill, father-in-law Niilo Pehkonen.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 in the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street at James with Rev. Arlene Berg officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to the Parkinson Society of Canada either for research or to assist the local Parkinson Support Group c/o Jim and Elaine Forbes, or to the charity of your choice.