Edwin James "Ed" Sterling

Celebration of Life for Edwin Sterling  -  March 26, 2011

Opening - Ben Kellert

On behalf of Edwin's family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being here today.  Your attendance here is a testimony to the lives that have been touched, affected and impacted by Edwin's life and the lives of his family.  Your attendance also brings tremendous strength and courage and comfort to this wonderful family.

In saying that I am reminded of a story I read some time ago and found it yesterday again and thought I would share it.

A Dad shares this story:  My son and I were working on our driveway, using a chisel and hammer to remove old asphalt and then patching it with new asphalt.  We were both tired, so our accuracy declined.  At one point my son pounded his finger with the hammer.  He jumped up in agony, holding back tears as he ran for ice.  I realized no one was in the house to help him, so I ran after him.  As soon as I got near the house, I heard him screaming in pain.  I tried to calm him down and get some ice on the tender spot, but he was in too much pain to settle down.  He hated icing down a would as much as the pain of the wound itself.  Finally, I put some ice in a bowl and filled it with water.  He agreed to put his hand in the bowl as long as I put my hand in the bowl also.  So we sat there on the cold tile kitchen floor with both our hands in the ice water.  Occasionally we would take our hands out to let the feeling return.  After ten minutes my son started to feel better.  "I'm glad you're here", he said.  I am reminded that, I can seldom take the pain away, but my presence can somehow make it more tolerable. 

Friends, the pain that is felt by Edwin's family today is intense and we cannot take that away, but I believe that as we have gathered here, we have agreed to place our hands in the ice bucket, along with them and in doing so encourage them and give them comfort and strength.

 

Childhood Memories - Edwin's Aunt, Diane Cross

Thank you family and friends for joining us today in the celebration of Edwin’s life.

My name is Diane Cross and I am Edwin’s biological Aunt but he never knew me by any other name than Toots.  Edwin came into my life when I was just seven years old.  I am sure the cat sighed a huge relief as I no longer dressed the cat or pushed him around in the baby carriage as I now had Edwin.

 I went on a number of vacations with the family and, while in Westlock, the two of us went back and forth to both houses as we felt we belonged with the only exception being the location of our bedrooms.  We were both children growing up together!

Edwin is loved and will be dearly missed by his children—Martika, Angel, Madison and Wade, his Dad—Jim Sterling (Jim’s wife, Evelyn), his Mom—Marjorie Sterling-Miller, his Sister—Stephanie Sterling (Steph’s husband, Bob Jennings) and his Grandma Miller.  Edwin is loved by many Aunts, Uncles and cousins but a list too long to mention individually.

Edwin is pre-deceased but loved eternally by Grandpa Miller and Grandma/Grandpa Sterling. 

Today, you will hear from three of us providing you with some memories at different stages of Edwin’s life.  I will share with you, “The Early Years!”

Edwin James Sterling was born on March 25, 1963 in Edmonton, Alberta.  He moved with his Mom and Dad shortly thereafter to Picardville and within a couple of years moved to Westlock.  He did go on to NAIT in two different programs receiving certifications in both and this carried him thru the balance of his adult life.  However, he always returned to Westlock to make it his home.

Edwin was only pleasantly plump when he was a baby but once he started walking he never had an extra ounce of weight.  He clearly didn’t get that gene from me!

As previously indicated, Edwin moved with his parents from Edmonton to Picardville.  At that time, they lived in the teacher’s residence that bordered the Beauchai farm.  Edwin was approximately fourteen months old and even then enjoyed his own solitude.  One day he quietly and quickly crawled/walked through some trees and under the fence to where the cows were pasturing.  His parents found him “happily” standing under a cow.  Edwin nor the cow were bothered by this scene and the only people that were was his Mom and Dad.  It was an exercise in patience but all ended well.

Maybe it was this experience as Edwin had many pets throughout his life that he loved.

Edwin did participate in sports.  He played hockey, loved to skidoo and snow ski.  However, it was waterskiing that he took up at a very early age.  Routinely, the entire family would spend the summer at the lake and waterskiing.  Edwin and his buddy, Billy Coles, wanted desperately to join in but they were too little and too young to ski behind the boat.

The pier they used was a “T” shaped pier and the water level from the inside of the “T” to the sandy shore was about three feet deep.  Both Dads strapped skis on the boys, gave them an end of the ski rope and would “hand” pull the boys to the shore until they could get up on the skis.  You can only imagine how little they were for this to happen.  This was done countless times with the boys laughing and giggling each and every time.

Edwin wasn’t very old when he went on a fishing trip with Grandpa Miller.  He and my Dad went out on the lake and fairly quickly thereafter Edwin had caught a fish.  It was a small fish but he was not interested in catching anymore fish and simply insisted they row back to shore so his Mom could cook the fish for him.  Ultimately, this would be a passion that he and Grandpa would share along with many other things.

He loved working and creating with his hands from a very young child.  There are a couple of houses in Westlock that have lots of nails in the same area as he was a helper, there are some beautiful wood carvings and even a work in clay of a gorilla head done from a picture in a magazine.

Edwin was an only child for four years and as it was at that time, he was happy with that.  When Stephanie was born he must have thought that she was just visiting.  Stephanie was not very old when Edwin asked me, “When do you think she would be going home?”  Stephanie never left and he came to love her.  

As an example, they would fight and argue like all siblings and eventually this would ware on their Mom’s nerves as it does with all parents.  She would send them off to their respective bedrooms for quiet time.  However, their closet was shared and there wasn’t a dividing wall to separate them.  They would sneak into each other’s room and play quietly think they had fooled their Mom only to determine many years later that their Mom knew all along.

Edwin was the “cool” brother who would take his sister for burgers at the school lunch break instead of joining his buddies that were at the same burger outlet.

However, mostly he was the protective big brother and did not approve of any of Stephanie’s boyfriends.  He communicated this quite clearly with Steph including being prepared to beat them up.  This was quite contrary to his personality.  It wasn’t until Steph met Bob that he was “okay!”

Edwin’s grandparents were all around him as Grandma and Grandpa Sterling lived a block away and Grandma and Grandpa Miller lived kiddy corner across the back alley.  Edwin drove truck with Grandpa George once he got his license and Grandpa George didn’t trust just anyone but he did appreciate this time with his grandson.  Another example much later in life was Grandpa Miller gave an old half ton blue truck to Edwin.  Edwin repaired it and repainted it but then gave it to Grandpa Sterling.  He loved and respected his grandparents.

In closing, I don’t know if you are aware but Edwin played the trumpet in the school band.  Remember I told you the family frequently spent weekends at the lake.  At a point in the evening, the sun would begin to settle, the wind would die down, the activities on the lake would end, and it would be beautifully quiet.  He would love to play his trumpet at this time and it seemed that people from down the lake shore and across the lake enjoyed his solitary playing as well.  “Can’t you just hear it now!”

This was Edwin in “The Early Years!”

Edwin, I will love you eternally!  Love Toots

Adult Memories - Howard Ringstad

We are here to say farewell to one we all loved.  Sadness fills our hearts in many different ways.  His love has touched each and every one of us.  This gentle, talented, hand working and loving man had time for us all.  There was no job too big, nothing impossible, he would carry on and say "No big deal".

To watch Edwin at work was enjoyable whether it was designing a new fibreglass mould or repairing a broken part, his touch was perfection.  From carpentry work, equipment operating, goldsmithing to body work, he did all very, very well.  A few years ago, when designing one of his many moulds for Lehman Trike's, and they asked him if it was possible to put a little trunk and lid at the back, I'll never forget how proud he was after his many hours - as it worked and looked excellence.  It was the first for the industry.

Many of us got to know Edwin after the antique tractor club was organized.  Our interest and his talent brought us together.  When we took him an old hood, fender or whatever and asked him to straighten it out, it would always get done.  We would say, "Now it doesn't have to be perfect, as the original wasn't perfect."  He would just smile.  Nothing left his shop unless it was done to perfection.  There was lots of pride in his heart when he went to the shows and looked them all over.  Many he had done.  This talent will be in the tractor museum for years, we hope, as he worked on at least fifty tractors for Albert Miller alone.  Many others are there as well.  He wasn't just a body man or painter, he was the best.

Dirt bikes and motorcycles were one of his youthful loves.  He competed professionally in this sport with no fear and lots of guts.  What a loving Dad, he would go out in the yard and dig big homes and make hills for the bikes to jump.  Mud and all.  He made a plywood goalie so the kids could shoot pucks at the garage door.  Ski-doo's , dirt bikes, to computer games and movies, there were no idle moments.

When Angel got old enough and wanted a nice truck, they started a project together.  Under instructions from Dad, she stripped it down and started over.  It took a long time, but what a masterpiece.  He designed the bumper and grill and inserted Cadillac taillights, so it is truly one of a kind.  Customized to perfection.  What a great experience for you, Angel.

All of us gathered here today could go on for hours, telling how Edwin touched our lives and what a good guy he was.  He wasn't perfect, everyone knew he worked much too hard, smoked a little too much and drank too much Coke.  But most of all he was just too nice of a guy.

You kids were the spark in your Dad's eyes.  And along with Cole and Michelle, you had many fun filled weekends.  Fishing, camping and swimming in the river were some of the stories I heard about.  On Monday he would go back to work a happy man. 

My closing remarks on this sad day are just to say, remember the good times; the laughter, the joys, the phone calls, text messages, the kind works, and the helping hand that was always there.

Let us remember that life is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived.

Friendship & Family Tribute - Paul Pankonin

My name is Paul Pankonin and I am honored to have been asked to help today as we remember Edwin’s life and how he touched all of us in a different ways. Some of us are family many of us are friends I was lucky enough to have been both.

I would like to speak of many things I remember about Edwin’s adult life. These are in no specific order just recollections and reflections.

Edwin was one of those people you did not have to see to know he was in a room his voice was enough and unmistakable, unless Uncle Jim was there of course. Edwin loved to work, both for himself and to help others as needed.  Edwin was lucky enough to have been able to work with both his grandfathers. One teaching him how to drive, load and haul. The other teaching him to work with his hands and build something out of nothing ending up great and wonderful projects.  These two traits were the foundation that formed his adult life.

Uncle Dave was a big part of that early on, they worked together building grain bins, making ice at the curling rink and on many other things. Edwin always looked up to Uncle Dave if Dave did it it was the thing to do and it was the right thing. That may have been where the need for a go fast, good looking type car and truck came from. After that Edwin moved from job to job as he felt the desire or need to do so. Doing what he wanted at that particular time. Here are a few of the things I remember again in no specific order.

·          Stan Schmode holdings:, Edwin worked with his good friend Darrell for a while driving truck and running equipment

·          Roger Tenant: they built houses and worked on many building projects

·          John’s Jewelry: Here Edwin worked with his mom in her jewelry stores helping with repairs and sales.

·          Pony Express: Edwin worked with another good friend Ron Mc Cracken driving truck and hauling freight what ever needed to be done.

·          Lehman Trikes: This is where I was lucky enough to work with him for a few years. He helped me organize a warehouse, develop some packaging and crating, then moved into the fiberglass department working on new products and product improvements.

·          Ed’s Auto: There was always something new and interesting to work on at Ed’s; things that needed rebuilding and painting. This was both interesting and challenging at the same time.

·          Ultimately he ended up working for himself repairing and rebuilding things in his shop on the acreage. All of these jobs have two things in common; one, most of these were with friends that needed help and he was able to help out; two, all of these jobs were based on the two traits he learned from his grandfathers - the love of working with his hands ultimately won out, but the desire to drive or haul was also engraved for a life time.

 

Now all of that was work, the part I knew the most about Edwin, but he did have a fun side and a family side, each of us will remember in our own special way. Again in no particular order.

·          Going to the lake boating and skiing

·          Driving nice vehicles making them both look good and perform well

·          Riding motorcycle both motocross and street bikes

·          Riding snowmobiles was also a big part of his winter activities

·          Love for animals mostly dogs and cats. I especially remember the two pug nose dogs that he had since that were pups in town.

All of these things he passed along to his children. He talked about them often going to the lake, sledding around the yard and just enjoying his time with them.

 

Since I moved to the USA about 7 years ago Edwin and I stopped going for coffee in the mornings like we did for years. However we spoke on the phone often “weekly in fact” every time I got back home here about 4-5 times always we always got together. The last time I was out was Christmas and we had lunch together and a 4 hour visit. The visits consisted of the following. “ Hey want a Coke” followed by a 2-3 hour “ project review” There were always different and interesting things to review and discuss. We shared a similar passion for his work and the shop was always full of STUFF. I, like the rest of you, will miss my friend Edwin, his voice, sense of humor, friendship and all the advice he offered that folks asked for (or at least me).

 

Now a short story about Edwin and his grandfather.

Driving for grandpa (Uncle George)

Edwin learned like most of us; watch, learn how, and try it yourself. After I am sure many trips with his grandpa it was time for Edwin to go for his first load of lumber on his own. Uncle George taught him to drive safe, abide by the rules of the road and make friends along the road, so off he went. After a few trips and things going quite well Uncle George was still a little concerned about how fast the trips were going and how good of time Edwin was making. Concerned that Edwin may have picked up some of Uncle Dave’s driving habits they had a long talk about speeding. I don’t know if Edwin ever had the heart to tell his grandpa if you don’t stop for pie and coffee at the Fawcett Husky and in Slave Lake both ways you can make much better time and you don’t have to speed.

I don’t know this for a fact but I believe it had less to do with making better time that Edwin never stopped at these place’s and more to do with the fact they never sold COKE so there was really no reason to stop.

 

Good bye Edwin we will miss you

You friend and Cousin Paul.

 

Closing - Ben Kellert

As we come to the close of this service this afternoon, I would like to share a word of comfort with you in Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. 

He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to His name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  Your honour me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Let me close with this hought today; I trust that each of you whether family or friend will find necessary peace, comfort, strength and courage in the days where are ahead of you.  May God grant you His ever present and available help to guide you step by step through this valley.

 

Born: Mar 25, 1963 in Edmonton, Alberta

Died: Mar 21, 2011 in Westlock, Alberta

About: Canadian Tractor Museum

Obituary

STERLING, Edwin James March 25, 1963 - March 21, 2011 Loved with a love beyond telling, Missed with a grief beyond all tears. It is with great sadness that the family of Edwin Sterling announces his passing on Monday, March 21, 2011 at the age of 47 years. Left to cherish his memory is his loving family, his children, Wade, Madison, Angel and Martika Sterling, his mother Marjorie Sterling, his father James and James' wife Evelyn Sterling, his sister, Stephanie Sterling and brother- in-law, Bob Jennings, his grandmother, Helen Miller, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at the Hazel Bluff Community Hall (West of Westlock on Hwy 18) on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.