Ishpeming – Edward C. Vickstrom, age 94, of 2012 Washington Ave., Ishpeming, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

Ed was born February 16, 1920 in Marquette the son of the late Carl J. and Mabel C. (Johnson) Vickstrom. Ed was raised in the New Dalton location of Skandia where his father worked at the local sawmill, the family moved to Kingsford, MI when Ed was two years old. Ed remained in Kingsford throughout his school years, graduating from the Kingsford High School, Class of 1937. Ed immediately thereafter enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) serving at Camp Duck Lake, Watersmeet area, and Camp Paulding, Bruce Crossing area for two years (1937-39).

Following a 1939 family relocation to Marquette, Ed enlisted in the Michigan National Guard (Company D 107th Engineer Regiment, 32 Infantry Division) on July 23, 1940 which division was Federally activated on October 15, 1940, for supposedly one year peacetime training at Camp Beauregard and Camp Livingston, LA. However, after Pearl Harbor and declaration of War in December 1941 the re designated 107th Engineer Combat Battalion staged for overseas shipment through Fort Dix, NJ, departing from the Brooklyn Naval Yard on Feb. 19, 1942, as the advance party for the 32nd Division arriving at Belfast, Northern Ireland on March 3rd, being a part of the second WWII contingent of US troops to the British Isles. The 32nd, however, was redirected to Australia thus ending the 107th's long-time divisional assignment. Ed's five year World War II service, including 3 ½ years in Europe, was all with combat engineer units, including the 107th Regiment & Battalion, 112th Regiment, 254th Battalion, and post-war with the 234th Battalion. With the 254th he participated in 5 European Theater of Operations; Normandy w/Arrowhead, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. During his 11 month combat tour he participated in the Omaha Beach Invasion, breakout from the Normandy beachhead, liberation of Paris, battle of the Bulge, bridging the Rhine River and meeting the Russian army in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia at war's end. The 254th was awarded the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation and France's Croix de Guere w/silver star for the units Battle of the Bulge performance. In addition to numerous service and campaign citations he was personally awarded the Good Conduct Medal, 7 overseas bars, Bronze Star and a direct field commission of 2nd Lieutenant.

After a September 1945 release from military service he briefly worked construction for Beyers Brothers until employed by Inland Steel Co. for office positions at the company's underground mines; Sherwood Mine, Iron River; Cayia Mine, Crystal Falls; and Greenwood Mine, Ishpeming, followed by a transfer to Inland's General Office in Ishpeming for accounting and land administration assignments. Following 29 years with Inland he opted for early retirement in January of 1976 when the general office relocated to Virginia, MN whereupon he simultaneously accepted employment as Manager at the Ishpeming Community Federal Credit Union (TruNorth) in which capacity he served until March of 1986.

Ed was a member of the Ishpeming VFW, Post #4573; VASA Monitor Lodge #1963; 107th Engineer Association; Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge; and Bethany Lutheran Church, its choir, served as counter and auditor for many years; Life member of the Ishpeming Beagle Club; Secretary and newsletter editor for the 107th Engineer Association for 39 years (1961-2000) during which period he researched and documented the 107th's, and its counterpart units, World War II history and locating for mailing and annual reunion purposes hundreds of ex-army comrades located throughout the United States. Ed was an elected member of the Board of Directors at the Ishpeming Community Credit Union (TruNorth) for over 20 years, serving as the chairman of the supervisory committee prior to his employment at the Credit Union. He was a former member of the Ishpeming Kiwanis Club, Ishpeming Elks Club and the American Legion.

Ed's hobbies included raising, training and field trailed beagles for hunting and Northern Michigan Hare Association competitions for over 30 years; wood working; avid reader; gardening and raising strawberries and raspberries.

Survivors include a daughter Laurel (Joseph) Urbaniak of Grand Forks, ND; 3 sons – Thomas (Darla) Vickstrom of Ishpeming, Richard (Anita) Vickstrom of Algonquin, IL, and Steven Vickstrom of Neenah, WI; 13 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; brother Kenneth (Janet) Vickstrom of Marquette, nieces Lynda (Tom) Trafton of San Antonio, TX and Renee (Jerry) Messana of Marquette, along with a number of cousins.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Marie C. (Bureau) Vickstrom on Dec. 11, 2005; his parents, a sister Violet Vickstrom; his in-laws – Alfred & Mabel (Lemire) Bureau, sisters-in-law, Joyce (Kenneth) Menard and Elizabeth Bureau.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:30am – 11:00am on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am at the Bethany Lutheran Church with the Rev. Warren Geier to officiate. The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #380 will accord military honors at the conclusion of the services. Interment will take place at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Marquette. Pallbearers will be Ed's grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Ed's memory.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .