Official Obituary of
Edward John Eggen
October 9, 1922 ~ July 25, 2020 (age 97) 97 Years Old
Edward Eggen Obituary
Edward J. Eggen, 97, of Colfax, WI died peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at the Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Ed was born at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire on October 9, 1922 to John and Julia (Sundem) Eggen. During his high school years, he was Doc Felland's personal driver, and had many stories to share with his family years later.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1941 and was shot down in Germany on his first combat mission in 1944 and was a POW. Ed was part of the heavy bomber group and eventually liberated from Germany in June, 1945. His Mother received a telegram that he was missing in action, but never believed he was dead.
Once he left the military, he went to school in Montana in 1946 to become a smoke jumper, In 1949, he was part of a group of four to jump into our nation's capital and land on their lawn. It was televised on television and President Harry Truman watched the event.
Ed returned to Colfax and loved to hunt and fish, especially in Gordon with the Irwin family. He also enjoyed watching the Brewers and Packers but most of all, Ed spent endless hours tinkering out in his garage.
Ed is survived by nieces and nephews, Mikell Thomas, Randy Eggen, Pam Sebus, Sandy Henke, Patti Bickley, Jim Larson, and Judy Rassbach; special friends, Jim and Kathie Irwin, Jim and Cheryl Riebe and their families.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, John and Julia Sundem; brothers, Merlin Eggen and Tom Eggen; sisters, Ann Vera Hovland and Johanna Larson; and very special friend, Liz Irwin.
The family would like to thank the staff at Colfax Health and Rehab for all the care given to Ed.
A public graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery in Colfax, Wisconsin. Please observe CDC guidelines for social distancing. For online condolences, please visit www.sampsonfuneralhome.com
Ed was born at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire on October 9, 1922 to John and Julia (Sundem) Eggen. During his high school years, he was Doc Felland's personal driver, and had many stories to share with his family years later.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1941 and was shot down in Germany on his first combat mission in 1944 and was a POW. Ed was part of the heavy bomber group and eventually liberated from Germany in June, 1945. His Mother received a telegram that he was missing in action, but never believed he was dead.
Once he left the military, he went to school in Montana in 1946 to become a smoke jumper, In 1949, he was part of a group of four to jump into our nation's capital and land on their lawn. It was televised on television and President Harry Truman watched the event.
Ed returned to Colfax and loved to hunt and fish, especially in Gordon with the Irwin family. He also enjoyed watching the Brewers and Packers but most of all, Ed spent endless hours tinkering out in his garage.
Ed is survived by nieces and nephews, Mikell Thomas, Randy Eggen, Pam Sebus, Sandy Henke, Patti Bickley, Jim Larson, and Judy Rassbach; special friends, Jim and Kathie Irwin, Jim and Cheryl Riebe and their families.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, John and Julia Sundem; brothers, Merlin Eggen and Tom Eggen; sisters, Ann Vera Hovland and Johanna Larson; and very special friend, Liz Irwin.
The family would like to thank the staff at Colfax Health and Rehab for all the care given to Ed.
A public graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery in Colfax, Wisconsin. Please observe CDC guidelines for social distancing. For online condolences, please visit www.sampsonfuneralhome.com
Graveside Service
AUG 11. 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (CST)
Evergreen CemeteryTo send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.
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