Edward Joseph Erdelatz Jr.

Edward Joseph "Eddie" Erdelatz Jr., a deeply loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and legendary law enforcement officer, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, in Modesto, California. He was 84 years old.

Born on September 1, 1941, in Oakland, California, to Edward Erdelatz Sr. and Agnes Connors Erdelatz, Eddie spent much of his childhood in Annapolis, Maryland, where his father served as head football coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. Eddie Sr. also worked as a defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and became the first head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1960, a legacy of leadership and discipline that profoundly shaped Eddie's early life.

While living in Annapolis, Eddie attended St. Mary's High School, where he was an All-American football player and also played lacrosse alongside his best friend, Tim Vogel. His yearbook noted his "winning ways" and "fleet feet," and in 2003 he was inducted into the St. Mary's Athletics Hall of Fame. It was at St. Mary's that he met the love of his life, Patricia ("Trish") Stansbury. They were married in 1961, beginning a life together marked by devotion, partnership, and enduring love that spanned 65 years.

Eddie played football at San Jose State University for two years before joining the United States Army as a military policeman. He was stationed at the Berlin Wall when President John F. Kennedy made his historic visit there in 1963. Following his military service, Eddie joined the San Francisco Police Department, where he began as a patrolman and later served for more than 25 years as a homicide detective. During his career, he worked on numerous high-profile serial killer cases and was later featured in several national television documentaries. He went on to serve as an investigator with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and on FBI task forces investigating cold cases that resulted in the arrests of suspects in previously unsolved murders. In total, Eddie dedicated more than 45 years to law enforcement, earning the deep respect and affection of colleagues for his integrity, professionalism, and genuine warmth.

In 1975, through the influence of police officer friends, his wife Trish, and the Bible, Eddie came to a living faith in Jesus Christ—a turning point that transformed every aspect of his life. His faith guided both his personal relationships and his professional conduct, as he sought to live a Spirit-filled life marked by humility, compassion, and purpose. Along with fellow SFPD officers Jim Crowley and Jim Higgins, he co-founded the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers, also known as "Cops for Christ."

After moving to the Central Valley, Eddie continued to serve his community. He contributed to the life of his church, Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, including serving three years as an elder. He volunteered at the Modesto Gospel Mission and at Rock Church and, until the day of his death, faithfully mentored men coming out of incarceration and addiction, walking alongside them with patience, honesty, and encouragement. His influence on these men was profound, although he always insisted that he received the greater blessing.

Eddie was known for his playful sense of humor and deep enjoyment of life's simple pleasures. He relished sharing good meals with friends and family and delighted in treating others. His favorite meal of all time was Maryland blue crabs, and he could put away a mountain of them. A legendary prankster, Eddie went to great lengths to pull off elaborate jokes, always careful to cover his tracks. He loved wrestling on the floor with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, playing golf with his sons and grandsons, and spending time with his beloved dogs, including his last two "service dogs," Beans and Buddy. A world-class storyteller, he was often asked by family members to repeat the best ones again and again.

Eddie is survived by Trish, his cherished wife of 65 years; his children Robyn Morris, Lori Darretta, Scott Erdelatz, Heidi Ennis, and Eddie Erdelatz; his sons- and daughters-in-law Del Morris, Joe Darretta, Omega Erdelatz, Robert Ennis, and Michele Erdelatz; his sixteen grandchildren, Ryan, Jimmy, Anthony, Joie, Dominic, Abby, Tim, Megan, Maddie, Bobby, Mali, Emmie, Mary-Kate, Andy, Dani, and Alex—who knew him simply as "Pa"; his nine great-grandchildren Myles, Luka, Matteo, Vinnie, Evie, Drew, Cooper, Jackson, and Rory; and two additional great-grandchildren expected this year. His family was the crowning joy of his life. He was known for calling one of his children or grandchildren at any hour simply to share a thought, a bit of good news, or to check in.

Eddie's deepest spiritual legacy lives on through his family. The faith that he and Trish modeled and taught has been embraced by their children and grandchildren, sustaining them with hope amid deep sadness over his loss. They rest in the promise of 2 Corinthians 5:8, believing that their beloved husband, father, and Pa is "away from the body and at home with the Lord," and that they will one day be reunited with him.

Eddie will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and love for others. He attributed his capacity to love deeply to God's ongoing work in his life, nourished most profoundly through daily Bible reading and prayer, which he often described as the highlight of his day.

May his memory bring lasting joy to those who loved him and encourage them to live with the same faith, hope, and love that characterized his life.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Deegan-Ripon Memorial Chapel, 111 S. Palm Ave., Ripon, CA 95366.

The funeral service will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 517 Orange Ave., Ripon, CA 95366. A reception will follow the service.

The funeral service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at:
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