Edwin (Ed) Arthur Liesch
November 1, 1934–March 1, 2021
As published in the March 15, 2021 World-Spectator
Ed Liesch passed away on March 1, 2021 due to complications from a recent stroke suffered on February 13, 2021.
Ed was born on November 1, 1934 to Anne and Fred Liesch on their farm near Haywood, Manitoba. He was the 5th child of nine children in the family. His family left their farm and moved to Carmen, Manitoba in 1943 when his father joined the army. Ed left school early to help support his family and make his way in the world. When asked about his education, he would tell you he had “half of 12” (Grade six). He found various jobs including a stint as a gravedigger with his best friend, “Hawkeye”, with whom he would maintain a lifelong friendship of 70 years strong. In 1953, at the age of 19, Ed was hired by SaskPower as a lineman and continued his career with the company for 35 years until he accepted early retirement in 1988. With SaskPower, Ed advanced to the position of Line Foreman and then earned the nickname “The Whip”; a tongue-in-cheek label as he was generally regarded as the nicest boss a person could work with.
During the early years with SaskPower, Ed lived in Grenfell and there he met his first wife, Irene, a recent Hungarian immigrant to Canada. They married in 1956 and moved to Moosomin when Ed was transferred there in 1961. They would have five children together, Larry (who passed away in infancy), Tim, Ron, David and Robert. While living in Moosomin, Ed continued to work for SaskPower and he and Irene also ran an Approved Home within their family home for people with mental health disabilities. Ed also purchased the local laundromat and built the first car wash in Whitewood while still working full-time for SaskPower.
Ed and Irene parted ways in 1976 and Ed then found love with Josephine (Joey) Eckersley. Ed shared his life together with Joey and her children, Rob and Jacqui, until Joey’s passing in 1998 due to illness. It was during their time together that Ed retired from SaskPower and they shared in some business ventures including running the Windsor Hotel in Fleming and the Moosomin Lake Confectionery Store. During retirement, Ed also enjoyed working part-time at the Moosomin Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Later in life, Ed would develop a loving relationship with Ruth A. Gray, and they shared their lives together until Ruth passed away in 2017 from cancer. Ed then lived independently in Moosomin until 2020 when he moved to Emmanuel Villa Care Home in Emerald Park, Saskatchewan.
Throughout his lifetime, Ed most enjoyed socializing with friends and family and his lifetime hobbies included fishing and hunting. He was known for his quick wit and sense of humour, his mastership of the art of B.S. and cribbage, his generosity and his eagerness to always help out his family and friends.
Ed was predeceased by his first son, Larry, in infancy; his youngest son, Robert; his parents; his eight siblings Lil, Pete, Fred, Lorne, Caroline, Evelyn, Larry (“Butch”) and Mabel; Joey; and Ruth.
Ed is survived and will be dearly missed by his children Tim (Susan), Ron and David; his 10 grandchildren, Lisa, Tina, Michael, Sara, Shalisa, Jason, Jordan, Jasmine, Dylan, and Kristin; and his two great-grandchildren, Charly and Edward. Ed will also be remembered by Joey’s children, Rob Eckersley and Jacqui Harrison (Eckersley) and their families as well as Ruth’s children, Tammy, Cindy, Rick and Murray and their families, his lifelong friend, Don Oulette (“Hawkeye”), and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives too numerous to list by name but truly loved by Ed.
Special thanks to Lynn Hafner (Hall), Sharon and Glen Hall and Murray Gray for all the assistance they gave to Ed during recent years which helped him live on his own until the age of 85 years and special thanks also to the staff of Emmanuel Villa for their special care and for keeping Ed safe and happy during the past year.
A Celebration of Ed’s life will be arranged at a future date when we can gather together again.
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