Edna Sjostrom, passed away March 3, 2012. She had just celebrated her 94th birthday February 10th.
The youngest of four children of a country vet, she spent her early years fishing, hunting, skating and skiffing on the Rock River in Mayville, Wis. Her father taught her to drive at the age of 12, and when not in school she went out on calls with her Dad. That is, when she wasn't helping out at her Aunt and Uncle's family tavern, her second home growing up.
During WWII, she was executive secretary to the Post Commander of Fort McCoy in Sparta, which of course meant that she ran the Fort. There she met, and married, her husband, Bob, and when he returned from India, his services as a Captain no longer required, they settled in the Beverly area of Chicago, and proceeded to raise six children, five boys and one girl. When Bob's job as a builder in the Union Stock Yards ended in the late 50's, Edna and Bob uprooted the whole family to Puerto Rico, to build the island's first modern meat processing plant. They purposely avoided the American enclaves, instead immersing in the island's culture, Edna learning fractured Spanish and mastering ethnic cooking, all while exploring every square mile of the island, the six children following along on every excursion, learning to sail, snorkel and share Edna's enthusiasm for life and new experiences.
She and Bob kept up their interest in sailing and then, with their kids mostly grown, were among the founding members of the Chicago BMW Motorcycle Owners Association, and proceeded to travel throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe on their two-wheeler. Bob and Edna moved to Oak Park to be closer to their children (four making their home in Oak Park) and numerous grandchildren. After Bob's death in '91, Edna continued to remain active, volunteering at the Hemingway Home, and most every week with PADS. A familiar sight was Edna and her beloved miniature wire dachshund Mickey. While Edna's eldest son Robert passed away just last year, sons Jerry, Dan, and Joe live in Oak Park.
Memorial visitation Saturday, March 31st from 10a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.