Born in Lansing, Michigan, the only child of immigrant parents Axel and Gertrude (Menzel) Bloomquist, Ed enjoyed a life filled with many interests and accomplishments.
Ed graduated from Lansing Everett High School as a varsity-lettered athlete in track, football, basketball and wrestling. After graduation, he attended Michigan State University until his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in 1952.
Ed completed Basic Training at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, TX, followed by two years in Funibashi, Japan, where he studied and worked in electronics. He completed his military service at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Ed was employed by McDonnell-Douglas as an electronics engineer, and worked on many ground-breaking aerospace projects including the Gemini space program and the Lufthansa 747 flight simulator. He left McDonnell-Douglas after 17 years, joining Engineered Air Systems where he served in varying capacities including Manager of Process Engineering and Manager of Technical Support until his retirement in 1998.
Being a “gearhead” was Ed’s birthright. The son of a mechanic and garage owner, he was born with a wrench in his hand and grease under his fingernails. Over his lifetime, he spent thousands of hours tinkering with cars – from his own first car, to his kids’ first cars, to his latest restoration project, “Old Yeller”.
The consummate “Mister Fix-It”, Ed enjoyed home repair and renovation projects, his motto being “never pay someone to do something you can do yourself”. Rarely was there an electrical, plumbing, or structural problem he couldn’t solve. He proudly assisted his kids with rehab projects on their first homes and completed countless renovation projects in his own homes.
Ed was a voracious reader, enjoying his bi-weekly adventures to the St. Louis County Library. He was a die-hard Mizzou basketball and football fan, religiously following the teams into his final days. He was a life-long dog lover from his childhood Border Collie mix, Judy, to his beloved Lab/Malamute, Bear. True to his Swedish/German heritage, he was a connoisseur of fine (or even not-so-fine) beer.
Ed was a gentle soul with a quick wit and a humorously sarcastic sense of humor. A devoted son, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law and friend, Ed was loved beyond measure and will be missed more than words can ever say.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife Diane (McNichols) Bloomquist and his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Elaine (Grossman) Bloomquist; children Brad (Julie) Bloomquist, Jill (Mark) Chapman, Jeanne Harwin, and Michael (Paula) Grossman; granddaughters Veronica (Matt) Potter and Lauren Harwin; his grandpuppies Sox, Buddy, and Hank; and Ben, the cat.
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