Edward Gaffney

1929 - 2021

Edward Gaffney

Pewaukee - Edward J. Gaffney, born June 5, 1929 died March 31, 2021.

Father of Thomas Gaffney, the late Mary Liz, Ann (Larry) LaMarche, Bridget (Tim)Johnson, Patricia (Bob) Landgraf, Tim Gaffney, Joan (John) Daily, Clare (Dwight) Rusch and Shaila (Glen Drysdale). Grandfather of Sean and Ryan Johnson, Jack, Monica, Paul and Imogene Daily, Alexander and Maureen LaMarche, Gabrielle, Owen, Sophia, Gage and Quinn Rusch, Sarah Gaffney, Evan and Zane Drysdale. Preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years Elizabeth Ann (nee Dundon) Gaffney, his parents Bernard and Lora Gaffney and brother John L Gaffney. Further survived by Jim and Clare Dundon, Sr. Mary Catherine Dundon, and Fran Dundon.

Ed was a lifelong Catholic and a man of many accomplishments. Raised in Houghton, Michigan, he was a 1951 mechanical engineering graduate of Michigan Tech. Ed invented the Cushion-Lift Chair for his mother who was afflicted with arthritis. From that first patent, he built a successful manufacturing company. For 43 years Ortho-Kinetics employed hundreds of Waukesha residents. Many more inventions followed, most of which were designed to make life easier for people with disabilities.

As a LTJG in the Navy Seabees, Ed served and sailed the Caribbean and the Mediterranean during the Korean War. Later Ed enjoyed sailing with the Pewaukee Yacht Club.

He worked with the Medical College of Wisconsin to develop artificial hearts and valves. Years later he helped establish "Flight For Life" helicopter ambulance services in Wisconsin.

For decades Ed was active in Waukesha Rotary Club and a member of Independent Business Association of Wisconsin. In February 1975, he and IBAW presented to the US Senate Select Committee a new tax plan. It eased taxes on small business, allowed small businesses to hire three times the number of people, increased the revenues to the government and ended the recession. He was Wisconsin Small Business Person of the year in 1977, and National Small Business Person of the year in 1978. .

Ed was an avid golfer, photographer, chess and cribbage player, writer and traveler. Most important of all he cherished his wife, Betty.

Visitation was held at St. Anthony's on the Lake, Pewaukee on Friday, April 16, 2021 beginning at 1:00 followed by his Funeral Mass starting at 4:00. Due to Covid restrictions, no formal reception will follow the Mass.

"Pray for me, as I will for thee, that we may merrily meet in heaven".