Ed Zufelt

John Edmund “Ed” Zufelt  June 24, 1952 - May 27, 2023

Ed was the first born child to Barbara and John “Jack” Zufelt on June 24, 1952, in Brockville, Ontario. Five more siblings would follow in the next eleven years. The family lived in and around Brockville all their lives. Ed talked frequently about his childhood and how they swam all summer, worked in the garden, rode bikes, and spent time at his Nana’s cottage at Bass Lake and later at their own cottage next door.

Ed was an avid reader. His 1st Grade teacher, Mrs. Stewart, gifted him his first Hardy Boy book for Christmas since he could read so well and loved to read. Saturdays his dad would load the kids up and take them to the library to get their books for the week. Ed continued to read and use the libraries in Lloydminster, Frontier and Climax and more often than not, had 3 or 4 books on the go.

Ed’s first love was his mom, Barbara; he adored her. He talked about how they would bake together, how good her baked beans were, how good her hamburger/macaroni mixture was and how comforting it was to come downstairs to a stack of good old Wonder Bread toast and porridge waiting for them before school.  He was devastated as a child when his mother was hospitalized and he thought he may never see her again.

Ed’s second love was his baby sister, Karen. He was her protector, her knight in shining armor when she cut her toe and he carried her to safety. These two had a very special bond and had many heart to heart conversations at the kitchen table over the years.

Ed delivered papers at an early age then started to work at his Uncle Dick’s garage. Ed left Ontario as a young man with a few bucks in his pocket and hitched a ride out West as so many others did. Ed went back and forth between Alberta and Ontario for a few years; he was a hard worker, an early riser and had a strong work ethic; he worked physical jobs for many years. He often would come home shaking his head because he could out lift and out work “those young guys” when he was well into his 50’s!

In 1997 Ed arrived in Lloydminster and met Darlene on a blind date set up by his landlord. The two were married at a small ceremony in North Battleford on May 2, 1998. Ed and Darlene lived and worked in Lloydminster until 2021. During their time in Lloyd, they made many, many lifelong friends through their work and living at Mar-Nan Manor. In July of 2021, they moved to their forever home in Frontier, Saskatchewan. From the very first time Ed was in Southern Saskatchewan, he said he loved it and wanted to live there. He enjoyed going for drives and seeing the deer, moose and baby calves in the spring; the big outfits seeding in the spring and harvesting in the fall. He loved the laid back pace, the small town friendliness, going for the mail and waving to the people who drove by or who you met on the highway. He often said it reminded him of the cottage, minus the water!

In September of 2022, one of his dreams came to fruition when they adopted two pups, Sadie and Cooper. Those two brought him so much joy! He loved having them snuggle with him in his chair and spent hours watching their antics and talking to them.

Ed enjoyed the simple things in life. He watched Jeopardy every chance he got and could answer the majority of the questions. When he got final Jeopardy, he would say “Yes” and do a fist pump! He had an uncanny ability to recall household addresses of his own family as well as those of friends and family and could tell you all the family member’s names (often full names) of friends and neighbors. He enjoyed a good, hot cup of coffee with cream and sugar, an egg salad sandwich, a good game of euchre, classic country music, bologna, an ice cold draft beer or a Lamb’s Amber Rum with Pepsi and lots of ice. His favorite meal was a hot dog with macaroni salad made with tuna, peas and radish. He loved children and even though he didn’t make a fuss over them, they loved him and he was often referred to as “that big guy” or “Uncle Ed”.

Ed suffered a heart attack at home in the early hours of May 11. He was ambulanced to Swift Current and then to Regina for an angiogram. He suffered complications during the procedure and had to be resuscitated. On May 15 he was transferred back to Swift Current Hospital and suffered further complications. He passed away peacefully on May 27 with his brother, Brett, by his side.

Ed is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Darlene, his dogs Sadie and Cooper; his siblings:  Brett and Sue (Bragg Creek), Mitchell and Annmarie (Brockville), Dick and Darlene (Brockville), Abby and Sharon (Calgary) and Karen (Calgary); Darlene’s siblings:  Barb and Willie (Calgary), Ronnie (Frontier), Alec and Barb (North Battleford), Ken and Annette (Moose Jaw) as well as by sisters-in-law Tina, Terry, Leota, Patti, and brother-in-law Brian as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Ed was predeceased by his parents, Jack in 1991, Barbara in 2000, a sister in infancy, brother-in-law Vic in 2000, sisters-in-law Jan in 2005 and Geraldine in 2021.

As per Ed’s wishes there will be no service. His ashes will be scattered at the family cottage by his siblings and interred with Darlene. On June 24, Ed’s 71st birthday, pour yourself a cold one and tell your favorite “Ed” story!

He will be missed immensely by all who knew and loved him. Rest in Peace, Big Guy!

Those wishing to make a donation in Ed’s honor can do so by making cheques payable to the RM of Frontier, Box 30, Frontier, SK, S0N 0W0 and indicate it is for the Frontier & District Ambulance who provided exemplary service to us over the past two years.  Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home, for further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com, and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.