Mr. Edward G. Koschmann

Edward Giessing Koschmann was born on April 1, 1919 in Farmington, Missouri. His father, Herman Ernst Edward Koschmann (known as Ed), was Principal and upper grades teacher at St. Paul Lutheran School. His mother, Anna Giessing Koschmann, was from the local Giessing family, who owned the town mill. The Koschmann family moved to Freeport, Illinois the following year in 1920.

Ed was raised in a strong Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod household. He had two older sisters, one younger sister and four younger brothers. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School in Freeport, Illinois for first through fourth grades. In 1929, the family moved to Merrill, Wisconsin, where he attended Trinity Lutheran School for fifth through eighth grades, then ninth grade at Merrill High School. Ed attended Concordia - River Forest for tenth grade through twelfth grades, and continued at Concordia Teachers' College - River Forest for three more years.

In 1940, Ed received a call to Christ Lutheran School in New Orleans, Louisiana as Principal and upper grades teacher. This call suited him since it did not require him to play the organ as was expected of most Lutheran School teachers at that time. During much of his time in New Orleans, Ed was also Superintendent of Bethlehem Children's Home, running the orphanage and living there. He also led the Walther League at Christ Church. He earned his B.A. in Education in 1944 and M.A. in Education in 1949 from Tulane University.

In 1954, Ed married Marlene Adragna. Marlene graduated from Tulane University in 1957. After their first child, Karla, was born in 1958, Ed accepted a call to St. Mark Lutheran School in Cleveland, Ohio, as Principal and eighth grade teacher. Among other things at St. Mark, he taught confirmation and drove the school bus.

After 27 years of teaching in Lutheran schools, in 1967, Ed took a job teaching at Brooklyn Junior High School in Brooklyn, Ohio. Later he changed to teaching sixth grade. One special project he organized was the Outdoor Education week for the 150 sixth graders. While Ed did not teach religion to his public school class, he did not shy away from showing his faith. Ed taught in Brooklyn City Schools for 18 years, retiring in 1985. During this time, he was active at Bethany Lutheran Church, including serving as Sunday School Superintendent, teaching the "Sunday School teacher training" class and teaching Bible class.

Ed was a gardener. He always had a nice vegetable garden, raising beans, tomatoes and corn, but his pride was his rose bushes. Other of his hobbies included stamp collecting, woodworking and reading. Ed had an interest in family history. In the early 1970's, he started the Koschmann Family Directory which listed all of the Koschmann clan known in the United States which started with his grandfather, Frederick Bernard Koschmann.

Ed was a hiker, walking in many of the parks in the Cleveland area. After retiring, he was active in the Cleveland Hiking Club, working as the Chief Path Finder, organizing hikes, and as President. Other retirement activities were working at the Brooklyn Historical Society and discussing synod politics.

In the early 2000's, Ed developed Parkinson's disease. Marlene took care of him at home for several years until his Parkinson's progressed, and medical issues and falls made it necessary to move him in 2010 into Kemper House, which specializes in dementia care.

The two most important people in his life were his wife, Marlene, and his father, "Pop." I often heard that when faced with a difficult situation, he would ask, "What would Pop do?" But the most important person in Ed's life has been Marlene. He relied on her for many things and was especially dependent on her as his Parkinson's progressed.

Ed and Marlene have three children: Karla (and John) Byrnes of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Kate (and Mike) King of Dublin, Ohio, and Jonathan (and Linda) Koschmann of Waterford, Michigan, and seven grandchildren: Jennifer Byrnes, Stephanie Byrnes, Kris Byrnes, Ian King, Fiona King, Alex Koschmann and Rebekah Koschmann.

Currently living are brother Rev. Paul Koschmann (and wife Jo-an) of Jacksonville, Illinois, brother Mark Koschmann (and wife Dorothy) of Malvern, Pennsylvania, sister-in-law Lucille Koschmann of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and numerous nieces and nephews spread across the United States.

Ed passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at the Kemper House in Olmsted Falls, Ohio with Marlene by his side, having bravely battled Parkinson's disease for many years.

The Koschmann family will receive friends at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 7501 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio, 44129, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Funeral service to be celebrated Monday, November 21, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6041 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio 44129. The Rev. Gary E. Hill, Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, will officiate. Interment will then follow at Lutheran Cemetery in Cleveland.

Although flowers are appreciated, the family suggests that memorial contributions be forwarded to Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6041 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio, 44129, or to Crossroads Hospice, 9775 Rockside Road Suite #270, Valley View, Ohio 44125.

BUSCH FUNERAL and CREMATORY SERVICES
440-842-7800
www.buschfuneral.com