Edward Robert Ulrich

Edward Robert Ulrich, 94, of Pigeon, Michigan passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 in his home at Country Gardens surrounded by his family.
Ed was born to Raymond and Theresa (Reichstatter) Ulrich September 16, 1928, at home on a farm in Hume Township, Huron Co. Michigan.  His parents had moved to Chicago from Austria-Hungary when they were teenagers and lived there for several years before their marriage.  In the early 1920s they moved to Michigan and bought a farm where they lived the rest of their lives.  Ed was baptized and confirmed in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Kinde.  He had 6 siblings and attended school at Hume School No. 4 until the 8th grade then went to Kinde High from which he graduated in 1946.  He worked on his father’s farm and had several factory jobs until he was drafted into the US Army.  Ed served from December 1950 until December 1952 during the Korean Conflict.  He was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Hood, Texas and worked in the Second Armored Division maintaining medium tanks and other military vehicles and training recruits.  After his discharge from the army he started work at Gettel’s John Deere Implement  in Pigeon as a mechanic and service department manager.  Ed and Pearl Riffel were married in 1953 in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Kinde.  They are parents of five children.  They also have 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Ed retired from Gettel Implement in 1990.  His love of farming and his mechanical ability served him well during his working years.  In addition to this job he spent many hours helping his brother and father on their farms.  He was an active member of his church, St. John’s Lutheran of Berne, serving as a trustee, deacon and elder.  Ed was a devoted husband, father and grandfather always making time to spend many happy hours with them.  He enjoyed gardening and yard work and could fix just about anything mechanical.  He enjoyed some traveling, taking several trips to Europe while their youngest son, Ken and his family lived for 7 years in Switzerland and Germany.  He also traveled to Australia and Hawaii.  Ed and Pearl moved to Country Bay Village in Pigeon in 2008.  He liked to play cards and games with his family and especially enjoyed watching old westerns on TV along with quiz shows.
Ed is survived by his wife, Pearl; their 3 sons, Charles of East Grand Rapids, Dale (Carol) of Kentwood, Kenneth of Okemos, and 2 daughters, Janet (David) Wichert of Saginaw and Linda (Timothy) Voss of Bay Port.  Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jason (Tisa) Voss, Brian (Molly) Ulrich, Allison (Ian) Fudalski, Christopher Ulrich, Christina (Mohamed) Wichert Said, Joshua (Tiffany) Wichert, Joel Wichert, Nicole (Cory) Bulemore, Katelyn (Casey) Withers, Andria Tyler, Justin (Kara) Ulrich, Tyler Ulrich, Cameron Ulrich and step grandchildren Gus Unseld, Katrina Unseld, and Angela (Aaron) Cote.  Also his 17 great grand children, Benjamin, Tyler, Luke and Rosalie Ulrich, Carson Fudalski, Zachary and Jacob Cote, Mya and twins Wesley and Natalie Kober, Brianna and Brennan Mathias, Harper Unseld, Wesley and Graham Wichert and Ilana and Nour Said.  Also surviving are his sisters Mildred Mason and Clara Peppi.
Preceeding him in death were his 3 year old great grandson, Mason Kober; a step grand daughter, Lauren Unseld; his 2 brothers Raymond and Walter; 2 sisters, Wilma Long and Erna Varner; and a daughter-in-law, Laurie Dahlstrom Ulrich.
Funeral services will be at 11:00am Tuesday, August 29 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne with Rev. Steven Neuman officiating.  Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be 4-8pm Monday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel and one hour before the service on Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family’s discretion or to the GLK Student Fund ( glkstudentfund.com ) that provides educational scholarships to students in Tanzania, Africa, which his daughter, Linda, has been supporting.