Donald Edam Obituary

Don Edam passed away at his home in Monument, Colorado on Sunday, July 11th 2010. He leaves a wife, eleven children and their spouses, twenty nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his grandson, Alex Edam. Don was born to Louis and Elsie Canfield Edam in Park Rapids, Minnesota, on June 11, 1928. He lost both his parents by the time he was eleven and lived with his sister, Eula, until he graduated from Park Rapids High School. He enlisted in the Navy, intending to serve in World War II, and served on the USS President Adams, although the war had ended by that time. He loved the Navy, especially singing in the Great lakes Glee Club. One of his favorite experiences was joining his son, Cary, on the USS Antietam for a cruise in 1997. He started college at Bemidji College in Minnesota, and finished his engineering degree at North Dakota State University. He spent the majority of his professional career in management for companies such as GE, Univac and Applied Digital Data Systems. In 1981 he founded Sunbird Industries, a manufacturer's representative firm to the electronics industry. That evolved into Sunbird Rocky Mountain which he was still operating at the time of his death. He was also the owner of YarnSisters, Inc., an import company. In 1951 he married Beverly Jean Widdifield. They had 5 children: Jan, Bob, Cathy, Karen, and John. They divorced in 1987. He married Claudia Ruth Pearson Anderson in 1988 and became father to Jill, Chris, Travis, Blake, Cary and Debra. They have lived in Monument, Colorado for 23 years. Don loved flying, skiing, hiking, and almost all athletics. He was an active participant until severe back problems sidelined him ten years ago, but he still stayed involved through his children and grandchildren. He loved to travel and had been all over the world. He loved music and books and was a great story teller. Thankfully, he recorded many of his stories about growing up in Park Rapids in a book, They Called Me Cheesy. At the time of his death, he was writing another book about Park Rapids. Don was a loving and benevolent man who always took care of others before himself. His sense of humor kept us all going through his last days here on earth. Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 12:00PM at The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 E. Platte Avenue.