Continue to Rest In Peace

Happy Birthday Dad! Super cold out and snowy today. Had some great iceboating this year. Miss you always.
Love you!!
Scott

Miss you so much Papa! Boats are all in for the winter and the lake is steely gray. Waiting for the ice to form. Maybe iceboating. Always think of you when I'm on the Lake.

We sure miss him, continue to rest in peace

Ward was such a giving man... When I had met him at North Memorial I watched as he was involved in the United Way campaign raising as much $200,000 annually, The Employee Resource Council Halloween for kids event, raising money for the organization such as our guest house, Highway Clean up!! Anyone that knew Ward knows that he consistently made a positive impact on community, family and friends. These are just a few words of remembrance, they are also the reasons I miss my friend so much. I know based on how he lived his life he is resting peacefully with God. Take care my friend, I hope some day to see you again. Michael.

Blessing The Boats
by Lucille Clifton

May the tide that is entering even now the lip of our understanding
Carry you out beyond the face of fear
May you kiss the wind then turn from it
Certain that it will
Love you back. May you
Open your eyes to water
Water waving forever
And may you in your innocence
Sail through this to that

Happy 90th Dad. I think about you every day and miss you very much. Thought about you and missed you when we were skating this Christmas.

Hey Ward, you are still in my thoughts and always will. You were a good, kind man who made a positive difference in this world. For that I miss you so much! Take care, LOL Michael Burke.....

Miss you Papa. I think about you all the time.

Happy Birthday Papa! We are all thinking about you and missing you very much.
Walk in Beauty.

Happy Birthday Papa, may your gentle soul rest in peace. Amen

Happy Happy Birthday Dad! I hope you are sailing somewhere fabulous, or skating across a vast lake, or playing hockey, or iceboating, or eating a great apple pie! We love you so much and miss you so much.

To all: I had the opportunity to work side by side with Ward at North Memorial for many, many years. Just mentioning his name brings up memories such as cleaning up the highway, employee resource council, safe halloween haunted house for kids, United Way, food shelf just to name a few... Growing up he was inspirational to me because he truly gave back to the community! My wife Carol-lynne & I will miss him dearly.

I had the pleasure of being Mr Edwards caregiver for a short period, but his kind soul made it feel like I knew him longer. It was a great pleasure meeting his wonderful family who all made me feel at home.I truly enjoyed working with Mr. Edwards, I am blessed and honored to have been a small part of his life. Papa, you will be missed!

Then there was "the lake" -a destination in itself-An adventure every time-my father's favorite place and now mine-Lake Minnetonka-"Big Waters" in the Sioux language…"There is room to breathe, there is a realness of place. The seasons are extreme, but they pass and return, and the world seems far steadier than it does from the vantage point of a coastal city." (C. Sittenfield)

Ward made Deaconess seem like a family-not a work place. He provided R&R for us student nurses with a fun filled day skiing at Trollhaugen- lessons included and our times on a Dr's. Yacht and picnics on Lake Minnetonka. He was my excellent boss as a referral nurse in the community and took time to visit me after my first baby was born. I was able to take care of him in ICU. A special man.

After retirement, he continued to attend the annual LDH Alumni & Friends luncheons, with deep devotion to the LDH family. He was truly one who reflected the meaning of the plaque under the marble statue of Christ in the LDH lobby: “At His Feet”. - LDH Alumni Board of Directors

In 1960 Mr. Ward Edwards became the Administrator of Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis following the retirement of Sister Anna Bergland. His humble and gracious spirit radiated as he skillfully carried on the hospital leadership that had been in the care of Deaconesses until then. He treated every nursing student and employee with an unusual amount of appreciation and respect.

Mr. Edwards treated us Deaconess students so well! He took us to Trollhaugen skiing; he took us to Lake Minnetonka for picnics; he was an excellent administrator and friend. Blessed be his memory!

I am so sorry for your loss. I was on the Employee Resource Council at North Memorial with Ward and we became good friends. I will so miss him telling me stories about his life. I will always hold a special place in my heart for him.

Ward was a wonderful man to work with in the Marketing Dept. of NMMC. He will be missed!