Joseph G. Edmunds

Joseph G. Edmunds, 93, of Bridgman, passed away on Friday, October 16, 2020, with his family by his side. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Out of respect to the family and the community, masks will be required. Inurnment will follow in Riverview Cemetery with military honors rendered by North Berrien Military Rights Team. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, from 10-11 also at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to LOGAN Center of Southwest Michigan, 1651 Nickerson Ave., Benton Harbor or Readiness Center, 347 Catalpa Ave., Benton Harbor. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Joe was born on June 1, 1927, in Jermyn, PA., to Emmett and Grace (Cannon) Edmunds. He graduated from Jermyn High School. Joe then entered the United States Army and was honorably discharged. On November 22, 1951, he married the former Eleanor (Creo) of Carbondale, PA. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage prior to Ellie’s passing on November 30, 2012. Joe and Ellie moved to Syracuse, NY., where they began married life. For many years, Joe worked at Lipe Rollway as a draftsman. Never having had the prior chance to attend college, Joe entered LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY. He graduated in 1970, with a Bachelors in Business. He worked as a Personnel Director at LeMoyne for several years. He then took a position at Columbian Mutual Life Insurance in Vestal, NY., from which he eventually retired. Joe acquired his private pilot’s license as a young adult. He enjoyed taking family and friends for rides, and flew up until he was 80 years old. Joe was also an avid downhill skier. For many years in the 1960’s and 70’s, he helped run the ski shop at Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius, NY. Winter weekends were always spent with family and friends at Toggenburg. In 1998, he and Ellie moved to Michigan to be near their only child, Mary, and their beloved grandchildren, Aimee and Grant. In 2017, Mary, Aimee and Grant moved in with their beloved grandpa Joe, to watch over him. What brought Joe the most joy were his grandchildren. During his last several years, he enjoyed the company of his daughter and grandchildren, and they feel blessed to have had these years at home with him. “We love you Joe-Joe”. Joe is survived by his daughter, Mary DeFrancesco; her children, Aimee and Grant DeFrancesco and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; parents, Emmett and Grace Edmunds; brother, Robert Edmunds and infant brother, Emmett Edmunds.