Memory for Ed
When I think of my cousin Ed, I think of the best childhood anyone could have asked for. We grew up in a world that doesn’t exist anymore — a world of foothills, wild fields, endless afternoons, and imaginations that ran free. Behind his house the hills rolled out like an open invitation, and at the end of his street stretched that giant field full of rabbits, lizards, insects, and yes, the occasional snake. After the snow melted, the foothills turned purple with wildflowers, and it felt like the whole world was waking up just for us.

Out in that field stood the old abandoned Italian containment camp from World War II — just the concrete shell left, mysterious and echoing with stories we invented. Nearby were those strange metal‑lined mounds, some kind of storage from long ago, but to us they were forts, hideouts, kingdoms. We could disappear for hours, and no one worried. That was the magic of the 1950s — childhood was wide open, and we were trusted to explore it.

We hunted for rocks, chased shadows, and once even went searching for Fluffy, their dog, who had wandered into the field to have her puppies in a hole. We found her, of course — because in those days, we always found what we were looking for.

And then there were the summers at Tent City in Oceanside, California — camping right on the beach, the ocean roaring beside us, firecrackers popping on the Fourth of July, cousins running barefoot in the sand until the stars came out. Those were golden days, and Ed was right in the center of them.

Ed, you and your brother and sisters weren’t just cousins — you were the most fun, the most adventurous, the most unforgettable part of my childhood. What we had wasn’t ordinary. It was rare, and wild, and wonderful. I carry those memories like treasures, and I will always be grateful that I got to grow up with you.

Kandice ( Kandy) Kuechler Wallace

Military Honors Service

Martin Mortuary

Edward Kuechler

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Edward August Kuechler

August 31, 1943 – May 15, 2026

Martin Mortuary

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