Edward Wingren

Edward (Ed) William Wingren, age 82, passed away after a long illness on Friday, February 27, surrounded by family. His beloved wife, Barbara, was at his side as she has been for 61 years of marriage.

Ed was born in Brockton, MA on July 29, 1943, and was the eldest child of the late Carl August and Anna Louise (Horne) Wingren. He grew up in Cape Elizabeth, ME where he went to elementary, middle, and high school. He met the love of his life, Barbara Louise (Toothaker), at Cape Elizabeth High School. He first caught her eye when she was a senior, but it was not love at first sight as she recalls referencing his group of friends as the "Junior Hoods."

Among his more notable shenanigans was the time a skunk carcass ended up in the trunk of the Chief of Police's squad car. The Chief solved that mystery by having Ed and his friends line up with their cars so he could "delicately" sniff their trunks. Ed was busted! While studying Business Administration at Babson Institute (now Babson College) in Wellesley, MA, he picked up an entrepreneurial spark that would follow him throughout his life with notable small business ventures in health food, printing, and food services.

But first, he and Barbara wed in 1964 and expanded the family rapidly, adding a child in each New England state they lived in, Beth (Portland, ME), Matt (Manchester, NH), Mike (Wethersfield, CT), and Lynn (Holden, MA).

The life of Ed's growing family included summer vacations and holidays at the beloved family home on Sebago Lake, four wheel driving and hiking. He taught every child to play cribbage and was always ready for any card game, including Boot, Oh Heck, Stab Your Neighbor, Hearts, Spades, and Five Crowns with many friends and family. In 1973, they returned to NH, settling in Center Strafford, where they grew their own crops and raised goats and chickens.

Ed's life took a different direction during the "Jesus Movement" of the 1970s. This movement saw young people disillusioned with drugs and societal norms finding a new direction in faith and converting to evangelical Christianity. He embraced Pentecostal-style worship that included a new musical component shared during services and at local coffee houses.

He joined the 1979 Washington for Jesus March and found what he saw as his true calling. He embraced the evangelical community, studying and receiving his ordination through the International Assembly of God organization. He was a respected speaker across the US and in Canada, went on missionary trips to Jamaica and Mexico, and served as a counselor, assistant pastor, and care pastor at numerous churches in New Hampshire.

In the early 1980s, Ed and several like-minded men pioneered the first New England chapter of the Full Gospel Businessman's Fellowship International, a worldwide, interdenominational organization that unites Christian business professionals through local chapter meetings and regional events.

In that time frame when interdenominational organizations were breaking norms from traditional church-based worship, he served as an advisor to the first Women's Aglow organization in the region.

Known for loving and caring for community members, Ed was always ready to help by feeding and housing people, performing wedding and funeral services, and providing counseling. He helped many people in crisis and helped many improve their lives.

Ed is survived by his wife Barbara of Rochester, NH; his daughter Beth and her husband Michael of Portsmouth, NH; his son Matt and his wife Kelly of New Boston, NH; his son Mike and his wife Diana of Dover, NH; his daughter Lynn and her husband Billy of Rochester, NH; five grandchildren Noah, Lincoln, Johanna, Helena, and Fin; granddog Luna; and his sister Connie and her husband Roger of Scarborough, ME.

All are welcome to join a Celebration of Life ceremony at Crosspoint Church, 87 Lowell Street, Rochester, NH on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Ed's name to Cornerstone VNA - Hospice Services of Rochester, NH.