Edward W. Assell
Apr. 17, 1934 ~ Apr 27, 2011

Edward W. Assell, 77, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011, at his home, in Hackensack, Minn.

A private family service will be held. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.

Ed was born April 17, 1934, in Aurora, Ill., to Bernard V. and Marie (Wirth) Assell, the youngest of nine children. In 1952, he graduated from Marmion Military Academy, in Aurora. After graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corp and proudly served in the Korean War. In 1956, he went to work for Thor Power Tools. It was there, he met and fell in love with, Mary Lou Schuning. They were married June 29, 1957, and Ed went to work for his father-in-law, Walt Schuning, as a plumber's apprentice. He completed his education at the Plumber and Pipe Fitters Union Local No. 319, in Aurora, and received his master plumber's license. He worked on numerous houses, apartment buildings, the Sears Tower and at the National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermi Lab), in and around the Chicago area.

In 1973, Ed, Mary Lou and their children, Jeff and Terri, moved to Hackensack, where he owned and operated Ed's Plumbing and Heating. In 1977, he went to work for the state of Minnesota, until he retired, in 1996.

Ed, was an avid sports fan. He rarely missed a Twins, Notre Dame or Vikings game. His passion for fishing, was like no other. At a very young age, he began fishing by the river, with a cane pole. He also enjoyed taking fishing trips, to Minnesota, before moving there. He taught his kids, grandkids, nephews, brothers-in-law and anyone who got in the boat, how to cast, troll or straight-line for walleyes. He loved eating them as much as he did catching them. His grandsons would keep him supplied with walleyes to eat, when he was no longer able to get out on the lake.

Above all, he loved his wife, kids and family. He beamed when the family would get together for holidays, birthdays or family reunions. It was so fun listening to him tell the stories of growing up with five older brothers and three older sisters, the nuns who taught at Marmion, and playing baseball and marbles when he was a kid. Although he worked hard all of his life, he always found time for family. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Ed is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Lou of Hackensack; son, Jeffrey of Atlanta, Ga.; daughter, Terri (Dennis) Tysver of Akeley; grandchildren, Brent, Grant and Jaclyn Assell, all of Walker; Amy Assell of Bemidji; Kyle and Derek Tysver, both of Akeley; great-grandson, Myles Tysver; brother, Charles (Rose) Assell, of Lady Lake, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Karen Assell; infant granddaughter, Alysha Assell; his parents; brothers, Albert (Gloria), Bernard (Jean), Robert (Gladys) and Fredrick Assell; sisters, Dorothy (William) Gould, Helen (Albert) Schweisthal and Florence (Elmer "Muzz") Kartheiser; and nieces, Linda Kartheiser, Caroline Schweisthal and Coletta Schweisthal.

Arrangements are with Kline Funeral Home, of Pine River, Minn.