Edwin J. “Ed” Wilber Sr., 87, of Shawano, passed away on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Born on Feb. 20, 1931, in Keshena, he is the son of the late Earl and Margaret (LaFrombois) Wilber. Wanting to serve his country, Ed enlisted in the United States Army, where he was made a cavalry scout, despite having no formal training and was assigned to the 8th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division. Edwin deployed twice to Korea during 1951, once in support of Operation Thunderbolt, where he was wounded on Jan. 25, 1951. Ed then returned to Operation Thunderbolt and was injured again. On Oct. 10, 1951 while serving as the point scout, he was hit with a fragment from a grenade. Edwin earned the Bronze Star Medal for his actions near Mago-ri, Korea and was presented the award on June 1, 1953. He was also honored by receiving two Purple Hearts and the Commendation Medal with “V” Device to denote valor. After his honorable discharge from the service, Ed worked as a logger for Wilber’s Logging until his retirement. Ed was united in marriage to Barbara Waupochick, who preceded him in death in May 1980. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Keshena, Veterans of the Menominee Nation and Menominee American Legion Post 497.
Ed is survived by his children, Victoria (Brian) Minch, Madona Wilber, Melissa (fiancé Matthew) Wilber, Edwin (Charly) Wilber, Eric (fiancée Vanessa) Wilber, Julianne (Aloysius) Waupoose and special daughter Tawny Wilber; grandchildren, Michael, Mary, Derek, Maddy, Mya, Taylor, Freddie, Noah, Isabella, Jamie, Alisha, Dione, Aloysius III, Timothy and Airelle; great-grandchildren, Jordynne, Dariyan, Louis Jr., Wade Jr., Jewel, Ty, Elora, Cole, Rhiannon, Nani, Darius, Franklin, Ruby and Brandon; and his brother, Clifford J. (Karen) Wilber. He is further survived by numerous other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his parents, Earl and Margaret; his siblings, Rita Bodoh, Theresa Jacobs, Bruce A. Wilber Sr., Wilbur “Greg” Wilber, Eileen Schultz, Antoinette Wilber, Earl Jr. and Louis Wilber.
A funeral Mass was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Keshena with the Rev. Nonito Barra officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery. Military rites were conducted by the Veterans of the Menominee Nation and Menominee American Legion Post 497. Visitation was held at the Dave Barrett Hall in Keshena from 2 p.m. on Sunday until the time of the services on Tuesday. A parish wake service was held at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Swedberg Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements. www.swedbergfuneralhome.com