Edward Eisele III

Edward (Ed) was born on October 28, 1941, in East Orange, New Jersey, the home of some of his forebears since the late 1600’s. He grew up in Green Village and graduated from Chatham High School, where he played drums for the high school band and a rock and roll band, and was also inducted into National Honor Society. While at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, he studied Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, was Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated second in his class. In June 1964, he married Lucille Dorathy Coons, who he dated in high school and years later in college. Graduate school followed at Purdue University, where he earned a Masters and PhD. His research was conducted at Herrick Labs, where he produced his thesis: “A Study Of The Optimum Rotating Heat Exchanger For Heat Pump Application.”

After graduating in 1969, he accepted a position with Whirlpool in St. Joseph, working first in the old Cooper Wells Building. At the time, he also taught part-time at the Michigan State University branch in St. Joseph. When an opportunity arose as Director of Engineering at the plant in Marion, Ohio, the family relocated there for nine years. While there, he directed the development of Whirlpool’s first microwave oven and was present when it was first unveiled at the National Builders Convention. A range introduction soon followed. In 1984, he became a vice president and joined the Philips acquisition team in which he led visits to Philips plants all over Western Europe and Africa. The next opportunity eventually came to set up an engineering center in Singapore. With a new challenge in a new location, he and Lucy moved to the other side of the world. Towards the end of their five years abroad, they moved to Hong Kong for a brief time. He had many adventures during his time in Asia, making new friends and enjoying wonderful foods in Singapore and around Asia. He retired in 1999 and the Purdue School of Mechanical Engineering awarded him outstanding Mechanical Engineer in recognition of exceptional achievement, leadership, and overall professional excellence soon after. While in retirement, he became more involved in the church as a Trustee of First Congregational Church, directing the building refurbishments of the roof, steeple, heating and cooling, and design and construction of the handicap ramp. He and Lucy made time to continue traveling around the world, in the U.S., or visiting relatives, friends, and grandchildren. He also came to enjoy exercising with the crew at the YMCA. Also, he spent many happy hours with his favorite hobby of building a model railroad layout.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Lucille (Coons) Eisele, two sons: William H. and Edward C. (m. Tamami), five grandchildren – Anna, Paige, Andre, Aidan, and Saya, ex daughter-in-law Mari, nieces Kimberly Mense and Katherine Arky, and numerous great friends. Preceding him in death were his parents: Edward H. Eisele Jr., Marjorie (Taylor) Eisele, and his brother Peter T. Eisele.

Ed’s final resting place will be the Hurley Cemetery in Hurley, New York.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Edward and Lucille Eisele Scholarship Fund for Herrick Labs at Purdue University. Checks can be mailed to Purdue for Life Foundation, Attn: Gift Processing, 403 West Wood St., West Lafeyette, IN 47907.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, 49085. Ed’s Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, November 23 at 1:00 pm at First Congregational Church UCC, 2001 Niles Ave., 49085. Please feel free to share a memory with the family online at www.starks-menchinger.com.