Edward Irvin Schalon

Edward Irvin Schalon, age 88, died peacefully at home on December 27, 2008 after an extended illness. He was a gentle man and a gentleman. Ed was born on February 27, 1920, to Ida (Klann) and Fredrich Schalon, the ninth of eleven children. Ed was proud of his German Lutheran heritage. Along with his ten brothers and sisters he attended Trinity Lutheran School and in his later years he was a long-time member and president of the school board. Upon graduation from St. Joseph High School, Ed worked for Industrial Rubber Company until the onset of WII motivated him to enlist in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. He attained the rank of Ensign in 1944 and served with distinction in the Pacific Theater as a carrier-based Bomber Escort Pilot with squadron VC-65. Returning to civilian life, Ed enrolled at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in Chemistry. On September 16, 1950 Ed married Marcella (Marcie) Gast and began employment with Corduroy Rubber Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. After moving to St. Joseph in 1952, he joined four partners in acquiring the Consolidated Die Casting Company in Dowagiac. In 1974, the Schalons moved to Grand Haven when the company was acquired by Sealed Power Corporation of Muskegon (now SPX) where Ed served as President and later Chairman of the Board. During this tenure, Ed was active as chairman of the Michigan Manufacturer’s Association, and in 1984 he was inducted into the Grand Valley State University Hall of Fame. He was a founding member of the GVSU Foundation and received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University in 1985. He also became a catalyst for the creation of the NPR radio station WBLV-FM (“the voice of Blue Lake”) as a means of sharing his life-long appreciation of classical music and literature with Western Michigan communities. Upon his retirement in 1989, Ed and Marcie divided their time between residences in St. Joseph, Michigan and Naples, Florida. Golf was a pastime and passion, sparked when Ed first caddied at 14, competed as captain of his high school golf team, and was inducted into the St. Joseph High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He subsequently won NCAA Individual Champion golf titles at the University of Michigan in 1947 and 1949 and was honored as a 1982 inductee into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame. Ed was an enthusiastic member of the University of Michigan Victor’s Club and the Michigauma honor society. Throughout his life, Ed enjoyed and furthered the sport that he loved, through various Club tournament titles and outings with family, friends and colleagues. Ed and Marcie held current memberships at Point of Woods Country Club (MI) and Wilderness Country Club (Naples, FL); and were past members of Berrien Hills Country Club, Muskegon Country Club, Spring Lake Country Club and Wyndemere Country Club. Ed is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marcella (Gast); daughter Susan Schalon; son Scott (Lisa) Schalon; granddaughters Julie and Kelsey Broome; and great-granddaughter Rylee Broome. Also surviving are sister Lillian (Yircott) and brother Frederick (Martha), along with extended Schalon and Gast family members. Ed was preceded in his death by his parents, his sisters Arlene Moore and Margaret Woodward, his brothers Henry, Herbert, Eric, Arthur, Reinhold, and Lawrence, along with son-in-law Jack R. Broome, a special brother-in-law Warren E. Gast. Throughout his illness, Ed was blessed to be cared for by James, Pam, Linda, John and staff members of Hospice at Home. Ed was a loving Christian man, driven by a strong work ethic and guided by a deep and abiding faith in his Lord Jesus Christ. His priorities were his family, faith, work and golf (although not always in that order!). He loved to express his joy for life through singing and humor, as all of his family and friends will fondly recall. Visitation will be held at the Starks-Menchinger Funeral Home at 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph on December 30 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A memorial service celebrating God’s faithfulness in the life of Edward I. Schalon will be held Wednesday, December 31 at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Main Street in St. Joseph (269-983-5000). Private family internment with military honors at Northshore Memorial Gardens will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks your consideration of a donation to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice at Home or the charity of your choice.