Edward A. Wilkowski

Edward A. Wilkowski, 79, of Marshall, died on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence. Mr. Wilkowski was born on May 26, 1928, in Detroit, to Peter and Peggy (Giese) Wilkowski. He graduated form Cass Technical School in Detroit. Mr. Wilkowski was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1951. He served in the Engineer Corp division serving in Korea during the Korean War. On May 18, 1957, he married the former Mary Louise Fedorko in Detroit. She survives. Mr. Wilkowski worked for the Packard Motor Car Company, and the Curtiss-Wright Company in Detroit. In 1959, he joined the Eaton Corporation in Detroit. Mr. Wilkowski transferred to Marshall in 1967 with the Eaton Corporation and helped develop the Eaton Proving Grounds south of Marshall. He worked for Eaton’s for 32 years retiring in 1991 as chief testing engineer. Mr. Wilkowski was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Eaton’s Society of Inventors. Some of his designs were patented and used by Eaton’s. He enjoyed spending time in the outdoors and gardening. A hobby he enjoyed since his childhood was building and flying model airplanes. He was very knowledgeable on fixing and working on the computer. Family was important to Mr. Wilkowski, and he enjoyed all the time he spent with them. He is survived by his wife Mary Louise of Marshall, two daughters; Barbara (William) Baird of Bloomington, IL, Mary (Bill) Patterson, of Marshall, two sons; John A. (Shiela) Wilkowski of Portage, Edward E. (Micha) Wilkowski of Murfreesboro, TN, and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will take place at the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Friday from 2pm-8pm with family present to greet friends from 2-4pm and 6-8pm with a Prayer Service taking place at 7:00pm. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30am on Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall. Family requests memorial contributions to the Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence or to the American Cancer Society. Assistance with memorials is available at the Kempf Funeral Home.