Edward "Ed" Gensler

C. Edward “Ed” Gensler, Jr. passed away on October 5, 2025, at the age of 86, following complications from a stroke. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Sydelle Gensler of Byron, California; his children Raquel and Erik; and his siblings John Gensler and Brenda Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeanette and Clair Edward Gensler, Sr., and his siblings Thomas Gensler, Cora Broseker, and Walter Gensler.

Born in 1939 and raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Ed was the eldest of a large family and left school early to help provide for them. Despite humble beginnings, he approached life with optimism, gratitude, and a “can-do” spirit that never waned. Where others might have seen hardship, Ed saw opportunity and found both abundance and joy in life’s simplest things.

After proudly serving in the Navy, Ed moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he soon met Sydelle—the love of his life. They married four years later, in 1963. Around this time, Ed started attending cosmetology school to pursue a career as a hairdresser, and in 1966, the couple moved to Oakland, California, where they opened their own beauty salon. As their family grew, they eventually settled in Byron, California, purchasing a home on an acre of land where they continued to build their life together.

For more than 30 years, Ed “bent” hair at “Edwardo’s Beauty Salon” which became a local treasure filled with his humor, warmth, and contagious laughter that made every client feel like family. In 1999, at the young age of 60, Ed changed careers and joined the City of Oakland as a maintenance mechanic, impressing co-workers half his age with his unmatched energy, skill, and drive.

Though he retired in 2012, Ed never slowed down. He devoted boundless energy to maintaining their property and exploring the many interests and hobbies he loved. He even became the captain of his local bocce ball team, earning admiration from teammates and opponents alike, as Ed was a friend to everyone he met. Ed found joy in cooking, working in his yard, researching his family history on Ancestry, and sharing the fruits of his labor—including a nearly ripe season of pomegranates he was just weeks away from harvesting for friends and family.

Ed was a self-taught jack-of-all-trades and master of nearly everything! He could build, fix, or create anything, and no home-project was too big—whether it was a bathroom remodel, koi pond, barn, bird aviary, grape arbor, pomegranate orchard, or even an Olympic sized bocce ball court! When his children were young he also volunteered his time building the first-of-its-kind mobile science lab for the elementary school, and was even featured in the local newspaper for his efforts!

Ed also became a beekeeper, producing honey and bee-pollen for local patrons. He and his young son brought empty hives to classrooms and taught the children the importance of bees in our ecosystem. Ed and Sydelle encouraged their children to participate in sports, 4H, music, gardening, animal care and more so they could learn important life skills; including creativity, resourcefulness, and compassion for people, the land, and animals—values that would later inspire their son to start a farm of his own.

Ed developed a lifelong passion for the fine arts, particularly classical music, opera, and poetry. In his twenties, he taught himself the basics of the piano and inspired his daughter to become a pianist, often encouraging her to perform at local convalescent homes. With great pride, Ed would introduce each piece and lead the audience in singing along, his loud voice and infectious enthusiasm filling the room with joy. He loved nothing more than bringing smiles to the faces of those around him. His delight in hearing his daughter play never waned, and her music continued to bring him comfort and happiness even in his final days.

Ed’s life was defined by determination, humility, generosity, and humor. Raised with little, he worked tirelessly to support his family and give them opportunities he never had, and they are forever grateful. He instilled in his children the importance of education, hard work, and curiosity—principles that guided them to earn college degrees and build successful careers, thanks in large part to his encouragement. He will be forever remembered as a devoted husband, proud father, loyal friend, and a man whose fierce work-ethic, creativity, and captivating laugh touched everyone who knew him. Ed’s spirit will forever live on in the stories he told, the laughter he shared, and the family and friends he so deeply loved.