Edgar F. Joppich

Edgar Francis Joppich "Ed", of West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills, passed into eternal life on Tuesday morning, October 3, at Angela Hospice, Livonia. He was 91 years old.
Ed was born on May 14, 1932, to Katerina and Maximillian Joppich in Detroit, MI. His brothers, Herb (late wife, Rita) and Ray (late wife, Grace), preceded him in death. Ed graduated from St. Mary's of Redford High School and, while a student at the University of Detroit, was drafted into the Army and shipped to Seoul, Korea. As a staff sergeant, he worked closely with the Company Commander, receiving top-secret clearance for 8th Army planning meetings.
Upon returning home from the service, Ed and his love, Edee, were married. They had five wonderful children, Glenn (Lynn), Janet Brown, Richard (Kelly Pavlica), Daniel (Donna), and Steven (Jennifer); thirteen grandchildren, Max Joppich, Kimberly (Matt) Fohey, Kendall (Justin) Lambert, Russel (fiancée Sarah) Brown, Timothy (Amanda) Brown, Julianne (John) Shihadeh, Steven (Ashley) Joppich, Allison Joppich, Kelsey (Matt) Hecksel, Catherine (Ben) Arney, Jessica Joppich, Joseph Joppich, and Thomas Joppich; and seven great-grandchildren, Lilian and Leland Fohey, Brynlee Lambert, Lela Brown, Zara and Luke Shihadeh, Evelyn Joppich, and another one expected in January 2024. He loved his family deeply and was greatly loved by all of them.
Ed's first job was with Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and Engineering Firm as a draftsman. While pursuing his degree at Lawrence Institute of Technology at night, he worked for Jickling and Lyman Architects. His next employer was Giffels Hoyem Basso as head of the Architectural Department. He was the architect for the Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg, IL, the largest mall in the country at that time. His job building the 47-million-dollar engineering and research building for Michigan Tech in the U.P. involved three years of monthly trips. Other clients include Wayne State University, U of M Hospitals, and Eastern Michigan University, to name a few. His final job was the Eastern Michigan University Bruce T. Hall Library. Ed loved his work, earning respect from employers, co-workers, and clients during his long and distinguished career as an architect.
In 1980, Ed organized and ran the National Power Boat Race in Northport Michigan. It was the first race sponsored by a small village in the history of Power Boat Racing. That year, he designed and built a fine art gallery on a historic site in Northport and for forty years the gallery showed work by some of Michigan's greatest artists. Moreover, Ed designed and oversaw the construction of a new textured circular brick entrance to the St. Scholastica Parish Rectory in Detroit. He designed and supervised the construction of a new arched wood-beamed chapel at the Benedictine Novitiate in Oxford, MI. He designed and oversaw the construction of dormitories, and gymnasiums, and worked with the Little Sisters of the Poor to renovate and upgrade their home for the aged. As a result of working on a high-rise building in downtown Detroit, Ed became acquainted with Monsignor Clem Kern, pastor of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. During their friendship, at Msgr. Kern's request, Ed renovated a house for "lost men" from Skid Row in Detroit and this became the St. John Vianey Cooperative House. Ed became president of the board and worked with the residents there. Along with the cooperative house, Ed often assisted Msgr. Kern with many night "rescue" missions truly helping to save one soul at a time.
Family and friends may gather for visitation at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, downtown Farmington, on Thursday, October 5th, from 2-8 pm. A time of prayer and remembrances is planned for 7:00 pm.
Ed's funeral mass will be celebrated Friday morning, October 6, at 11:00 am (in state 10:30 am) at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills.
A procession to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Franciscan Life Processing Center, 11650 Downs Street NE, Lowell, MI 49331.
Kindly keep Ed and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.