Edward John Raley

Born in a log cabin in southern Illinois, Edward John Raley was an identical twin to Edmund James Raley. Did you catch the problem here? Let's just say, life for the Eds was filled with elaborate schemes of trading places at school, work, and even personal relationships,ask his wife of 73 years, Joan Raley.

Lillian and Luther, parents to Edward and Edmund, oldest son, Wayne, and youngest son, Robert, may have also played the shared genetic makeup game. During the Korean War, citing Life Magazine's article suggesting there are medical emergency benefits to having identical twins in the same military division, kept the brothers together. Edward served in the United States Air Force (San Antinio, TX) providing physical therapy to wounded soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center and later special services at Hanscom Air Force Base (Bedford, Massachusetts).

In addition to the playful twin, there was a serious and gentle kindness side to Edward, who passed on September 4, 2024, at age 95. He was a talented athlete. During his time serving in the Air Force, Edward coached the Air Force basketball and softball teams. Edward also had the rare talent of playing music by ear and enjoyed playing tenor sax and piano. It has been said that he once played the harmonica in his PE class in Deerfield, IL to get kindergarteners to dance in time! Perfect pitch would have saved his four children and ten grandchildren massive amounts of hours practicing their instruments-oh well.

Edward received his B.S. in Physical Education at Illinois State (Normal, IL) while waiting tables in the dining hall. This provided ample opportunities for Edward to serve Joan's table, or whichever Ed-she couldn't tell. Joan and Edward were married a year later.

At Indiana University, (Bloomington, IN), with Joan by his side, Edward received his M.S. in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and gave up the cafeteria gig for hours of taping up ankles, padding bruises, and working out cramps, attending to IU's football players.

Edward spent decades leading in the suburbs of Chicago as a middle school principal. He worked at Gurrie Central Junior High (La Grange, IL), Skokie School (Winnetka, IL), Shabonee School (Northbrook, IL) before the honor of being selected to open a brand new junior high in 1972 (Northbrook, IL). Wood Oaks Junior High School is where he served until retirement in 1989. He continued to support athletes during the summers as the (first) manager of the Tennauqu Swim and Racquet Club in Deerfield, IL.

It was during early retirement; that Edward noticed the sensation he felt every time he saw a yellow school bus. He missed leading and teaching, so he found a way to serve again, this time near his childhood home, where he and Joan retired. As president of the Sauk Valley Community College Foundation, he brought housing solutions to the students on campus.

Having never lost that principal vibe, Edward was the family conductor to his children and adoring grandchildren, whom he taught to drive, encouraged studies in music and athletics, and the love of national parks. Edward and his family spent summers exploring the parks with a pop-up camper, and stickers from all fifty states to prove it.

Edward is survived by his love of his life, Joan; son-in-law Jonathan Haile; children John (Margaret Street) Raley, Robert (Diane) Raley, and Nancy (Clay) Bush; and grandchildren Tom (Annabelle) Haile, Jonathan Raley, Kate Haile, Nicholas Raley, Grace Raley, Elizabeth Raley, Beau Bush, Charlotte Raley, Jeffrey Raley, and Reese Bush; brother Edmund Raley of Phoenix; sister-in-law Mary Ellen Raley, of Williamsburg, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Jane Haile of Highland Park, and his brothers Wayne Raley of Grass Valley, CA, and Robert Raley of Henderson, NV.

A private service will be held for the immediate family. Memorial donations may be made to North Shore Unitarian Church at nsuc.org or to the Polo Lifeline Food & Self-Help Project at 113 N Green Street Suite A, Polo IL 61064.

The family offers its deepest gratitude and appreciation to the kind and capable staff at Grand Living at Bridgewater (Coralville, IA), for making his final years happy and comfortable; as well as the medical professionals at the University of Iowa Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care in the last two months.