Edwin A. E. Moore's Obituary
Edwin Albert Earle Moore, 84, of West Park (Cleveland), Ohio, died in the company of loved ones on January 6, 2024.
Edwin was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1939 to Vivian (nee Spencer) and John Moore. After his father’s early passing, Ed largely forged his own path. After graduating from Lakewood High School, this path led him to Bowling Green State University via ROTC.
Once completing his studies in History (MA) and Political Science (BA) at BGSU, his military active-duty days were spent with the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment stationed in Fulda, Germany. Outside of driving tanks along the old East-West German border and a 6-month driving tour of Europe with a close friend, his time in Germany was highlighted by the meeting and falling-in-love-with the love of his life, Gisela (they met at a social mixer in 1965 held in the gymnasium at the same school which his 2 grandsons currently attend in Fulda, Germany!). Excited to start their new lives together, Gisela and Ed were married on the 9th of July 1966 in the historic Michael’s Kirche (Church) in Fulda – always leading by example, two of Ed and Gisela’s children would later also marry there!)
Shortly after their wedding, they moved to a small, basement apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. Ed immediately began his career at Emerson Middle School in Lakewood, Ohio, the same place he would retire from in 1998. During those 32 years, Ed taught Ohio History and English, worked to establish and grow the German Language Department, collaborated with many colleagues, several of whom became lifelong friends, all the while helping guide multiple generations of youths. Ed also continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserves, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel prior to his retirement in 1990 after 27 years of service.
After a few years of the basement apartment, Gisela and Ed were able to secure a unique looking home – often referred to as the Castle House in West Park – which they lovingly kept up and cared for, from which they hosted countless dinners, parties, and 4th of July parades…and from which Ed never moved.
During their 57-year marriage, Ed and Gisela welcomed three children into their family, Erik Thomas, Kristian Michael, and Stefanie Marie. All three would benefit from Ed’s insistence they master German as a second language. Frequent family travels to Germany and Europe would solidify this mastery and allow for family bonds to be retained and even grow between the US and German sides of the family. These travels and experiences were always accompanied by Ed’s extensive knowledge of places and their history. His passion for photography only complemented and documented these experiences, often recalled and shared with others via dinners featuring post-meal slide shows.
Taking advantage of early retirement, Ed filled his later years with lots of activities – repeatedly winning poker games with his fraternity mates (despite not knowing much about the game!), visiting with his army comrades at Stammtisch, substitute-teaching at local schools, and his involvement in the German-American community. He began teaching German at Lenau Park, became involved with St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, and pursued his love of Bavarian culture as an active member and officer of STV Bavaria. If you were lucky, you would also receive his famous “Ed Bread”, a result of him having taken up baking, or enjoy one of his homemade soups (potato was his specialty).
If you saw Ed out and about, there was a good chance you saw him in the Cleveland Metroparks, his beloved ‘Valley’, where he would most days go for walks with ‘Gilla’ and his new companions, first Hexe and then Hansi (both wire-haired miniature Dachshunds). While he still could, he would cross country ski through the golf courses and ride the bike trails. He took up golf and traveling to visit family in Europe remained a staple. No matter where he was or what he was doing, Ed remained engaged in the world and its history, and – once a teacher, always a teacher – would do his best to pass his knowledge to others, whether they wanted to hear it or not! But perhaps most important of all, Ed continued his all-important work as Husband, Papa, and later, Opa. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gisela (nee Asbrand), sons Erik and Kristian (Heidi) and daughter Stefanie Huffman (Andy), and grandchildren Ian, Niko, Lena, and Mia.
Servus Eddy, Servus Papa, Servus Opa!
Friends may call on Wednesday, January 10, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Sunset Memorial Chapel, 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070. A funeral mass will be held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church at 10:00am, Thursday, January 11, 1930 W. 54th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102.
In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to St. Stephen’s Catholic Church 1930 W. 54th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102 or to the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center 7370 Columbia Rd, Olmsted Township, OH 44138.
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