God looked down on his planned paradise seeking another farmer for Heaven and on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, He called home Edwin “Ed” Menden, at the age of 90. He was a lifelong resident of Shakopee, MN.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 3-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and on Friday, September 29, 2023, from 9:30-10:45 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, at 11 a.m., all at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside. Ed will be laid to rest at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and distributed in his memory by the family.
Livestreaming will be available at St. Michael Catholic Church’s website https://stmichael-pl.org/ and by clicking on the “Mass and Services” tab.
It was on the family farm of Peter and Theresa (Lehnen) Menden, in rural Shakopee, they welcomed their seventh and last child, Edwin Roman. From his very first breath on Friday, March 16, 1933, Ed’s parents instilled in him the values of work hard, surround yourself with a loving family and have a strong faith in God.
Ed was blessed for 60 years to call himself a farmer. Through these years, Ed took great pride in raising countless animals, perfectly planting the crops, and keeping a meticulous farm. He eventually bought the farm from his dad and where Ed raised his children. The unthinkable happened on July 7, 1988, when a bolt of lightning struck the barn and burned, changing the landscaping of the farm and Ed’s life vision. In May of 1993, he said his final farewell as a true farmer, stepping off the land he once walked and worked on. You can take the man off the farm, but you cannot take the farming out of the man. This remained true for Ed, he loved driving the small lawn tractor mowing the lawn perfectly and frequently on his acre lot.
Ed was blessed for over 52 years to call himself a husband. He married Rosalia Anne VonBank on April 30, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Jordan, MN. From this union, Ed became a father to Judy, Jerry, Jeff, Jean, and Joey. As a family the best memories were made on the farm, despite farming consuming most of the hours in a day. Ed and Rose continued to instill in their children the core values they were once taught; a strong work ethic, be thankful for all of God’s blessing, especially family and treat everyone with love and kindness.
Ed was blessed for over 90 years to call himself a servant of God. He led by example of his parents to always have God at his side. Ed prayed the rosary daily, said his devotions and attended church on Saturday evenings. As Ed’s mind failed, he missed attending church and praying became harder to fulfill.
Ed was truly blessed in life with farming, family, and faith. He was raised during the depression when times were difficult, and in the end, reaped the rewards of working hard on the farm. Ed witnessed the birth and nurturing of the farm animals and his children, yet also felt the heart aches of losing animals, and especially family; his wife, Rose on October 31, 2005, parents, and siblings, particularly the death of his brother Norbert, in WWII. Ed didn’t need much in life to be happy. He was proud of his farm, his homes and notably his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and who they all came to be.
Forever loved, Ed leaves behind children, Judy Menden, Jerry (Nellie) Menden, Jeff (Lisa) Menden, Jean (Tony) Breeggemann, Joey (Karla) Menden; grandchildren, Chris (Spiro) Vourlos, Kim (Mike) Sobiech, Kyle (Heather) Menden, Michael Menden, Molly (Troy) Ware, Josh (Laura) Breeggemann, Tara Breeggemann, Grant (fiancée Angela) Menden, Blake (fiancée Mackenzie) Menden; great grandchildren, Simon Sobiech, Levi Sobiech, Addie Sobiech, Steven Ware, Aly Ware, Jack Menden, Nora Menden, Hank Menden; brothers-in-law, Richard (Marcy) VonBank, Duane VonBank; countless nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.
Ed is preceded in death by wife, Rose; parents, Peter and Theresa; siblings, Irene (Harvey) Molkenbur, Irvin (Pearl) Menden, Clem (Mabel) Menden, Helen (Ralph) Lenzmeier, Norbert Menden, Lester (Evelyn) Menden; sister-in-law, Kathi VonBank and other special loving relatives.
