Ed was born and raised in Michigan, the youngest of four children.  He joined the United States Navy after high school, which took him around the world, including to the Philippines, where he met his first wife, Marieta Laskie.  After leaving the Navy, Ed and Marieta had three daughters: Jennifer, Marjorie, and Jerilyn.  He continued to move around with his family, from Arizona, to Illinois, to Michigan, to Missouri, while working for various companies, such as Northrop, Beta Tech, and Stanley Tools.  He traveled extensively for his work, and lived in Korea for several years, where he met his second wife, Presmarie Ganiron.  In 2008, he moved to the Philippines to settle down in Presmarie’s hometown of Sarrat, the place of his passing.