Edwin D. "Eddie" Ellison

Edwin Dean "Eddie" Ellison, 86, of Cherry Valley, Illinois, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday March 1, 2023. Edwin was born March 28, 1936, in Udall, MO to Henley and Mary (Dean) Ellison. He was an honor student in elementary and high school but left school early to find work with the wheat harvest in Kansas. Following that, he stayed with his older sister in Belvidere, Illinois, where he met his wife Maggie. He worked for Belvidere Products, Service Soft doing water softener installation and servicing, worked at Admiral Corp. in Harvard, IL, and with Everett Hammerstrand doing TV and radio installation and repair. While he was working at Admiral, he began taking correspondence courses to be an electrician. When he completed his courses, he started working for Rockford Automation in 1962 as an electrician and eventually worked his way up to management before leaving in 1977. He then started working at Chrysler as a skilled tradesman electrician until his retirement in 1999. Edwin married Margaret Louise Bauer on June 25, 1955. They settled in Cherry Valley IL, where she grew up. They bought their forever home there. Edwin and Maggie adopted one son, Kelley Dean Ellison, when he was five months old in November of 1967. Although Edwin officially retired in 1999, He continued working until just a few years ago. He worked for Rockford Park District mowing, as well as several private businesses and residences. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting with his son and friends.
Edwin is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Maggie, and His son Kelley and Daughter in law Patricia Ellison, Brother in law Edward (Rosemary) Bauer, and many Nieces and Nephews. Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Sheridan, Preston, Sherman, Arthur (Junior) and Johnny. Sisters Ermal, Deelee, Zellie, Mainee, Juanita, and AnnaLee. In-Laws Frank and Olga Bauer, Betty and Charles [Gene] Brandebury, and nephews Mark Brandebury and John Bauer.
A visitation will take place on March 6, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108. Funeral Service will take place the following day, March 7, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment immediately following the funeral at Arlington Memorial Park, Rockford, Illinois. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com