Obituary of Edwin Eivinsen

Edwin Eivinsen passed away peacefully on June 19, 2015 at the age of 86, after a courageous battle with myelofibrosis and leukemia. Ed was born to Ole and Kari Eivinsen and was the third of four children. In 1953 he married Jean Spiller. They were married for nearly 40 years and had three children, Gary, Barbara and Robert. Nephew Trevor Carlson joined the family in 1964, when he was eight years old. After the passing of his wife Jean in 1993, Ed met a wonderful woman to share the rest of his life with. January 28, 1994 was a extremely lucky day for him. While golfing at his favorite course in Arizona, he got his first and only hole-in-one. Celebrating that evening he met Sharon Hickey whom he would marry six months later. Ed and Sharon shared 21 years together spending their winters in Arizona and summers in BC. Ed was born and raised on the family farm in Daysland. He left home in his teens to work in the retail automotive business both in Vancouver and Edmonton. He later returned to the farm, which he eventually acquired and then expanded. Farming remained an integral part of his life until his passing. In 1965 he joined Crawford's of Alberta as a territory manager, later becoming sales manager. He purchased controlling interest of Crawford's of Alberta in 1972. Ed was a highly regarded entrepreneur in Camrose who worked tirelessly to build several sucessful businesses. He was elected President of the Farm Equipment Wholesaler's Association (FEWA) in 1984 serving members in Canada, USA, and England. Ed was a life-long aviation enthusiast. While working on the farm in his early teen years, Ed saw an airplane fly overhead and from that moment he was hooked. He earned his private pilot licence at a very young age and continued to fly until he landed his beloved Navion for the final time in 2007 at the age of 78, completing more than 60 years of flying. Ed is survived by his loving wife Sharon; his children Barbara Blatz (Don) , Robert Eivinsen (Esther), and Trevor Carlson (Pat); step-children Caron Sada, Greg Holmes (Chris), and Steve Holmes (Jennifer); fifteen grandchildren: Gregg Blatz, Jordan Blatz (Laura), Chris Blatz, Jolisa Oliver (Josh), Mackenzie Eivinsen, Ethan Eivinsen, Jarrett Carlson, Mitchell Carlson, Nicole Carlson, Ivy Sada, Gunther Holmes, Garett Holmes, Isabelle Holmes, Josephine Holmes, Annelise Holmes; and two great grandchildren Lincoln Lazowski and Cooper Blatz. Numerous beloved nieces and nephews also survive him. Ed was predeceased by his son Gary, first wife Jean, parents Ole and Kari, sisters Louise Cadell, Esther Carlson and brother Larry. In Lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Edwin may be made to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society. (www.lls.org or www.llscanada.org) E-cards may be sent to Sharon Eivinsen at shedeivinsen@aol.com A Celebration of his Life was held at Camrose United Church (4829 - 50th Street Camrose, Alberta, Monday June 29, 2015 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Brian Hunter officiating. Reception followed at the church. Private interment took place in the Daysland Cemetery.