Edward Secrist

NIAGARA, Wis. - Edward V. "Sonny" Secrist, 79, of 116 Pine St. in Niagara, died, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wis. He was born July 20, 1928, in Hermansville, son of the late Vern and Anna (Ayotte) Secrist. Edward graduated from Kingsford High School in 1947. He was an U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War. He married the former Delores Hover on Feb. 6, 1954, and the couple recently celebrated 54 years together. Edward was employed by the Niagara of Wisconsin paper mill for 37 years, retiring in 1983. The couple resided in Kingsford where they raised five children, but after retirement they spent winters in Arizona and Florida. The later years they resided in Niagara. One of his favorite pastimes was watching Packer games with his grandson Travis and living vicariously through his fishing experiences. He was a proud charter member of the Northland Beagle Club with a passion for running, breeding and marshalling beagles for the American Beagle Club field trial events. Ed also left four special canine companions, Mindy, Amber, Lucky and Lacey. He was a devoted family man and nature lover with a love of life and all forms of nature. His spirit and love of life will be his legacy to all that survive him. He is survived by his wife Delores; his son, Edward "Eddie" (Ida) Secrist and their daughter Ashley of Kingsford; daughters, Gaye Lynn Secrist of Maui, Hawaii, Dee Ann Secrist and her fiance Telly Montanez Secrist of Draper, Utah, and Sandra VanMarter and her children, Travis and Lynn Marie of Kingsford; brothers and sisters, Roger (Connie) Secrist of Channing, Donald (Barbara) Secrist of Kingsford, Bruce (Marlene) Secrist of Niagara, Arlene "Sis" (Reuben) Hyland of Oconto Falls, Wis., Doris "Chickie" Hoynacke of Marshfield, Wis. and Connie Marie (Dwight) Bosselman of Abrams, Wis.; numerous special nieces and nephews; and an uncle, Warren (Betty) Ayotte. He was preceded in death by his son, Larry; a brother, Marvin "Chop" Secrist and his wife, Betty Secrist; a brother-in-law, Tony Hoynacke; a nephew, Jackie Hyland; and most recently a special son-in-law, David VanMarter, who passed away on May 16, 2008. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at American Martyrs Church in Kingsford. Fr. Joseph Gouin will offer the Mass of the Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Niagara Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Eddie Secrist, Travis VanMarter, Roger Secrist, Donald Secrist, Bruce Secrist and Telly Montanez. In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established in his memory. Condolences may be expressed online to the family of Edward Secrist at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.