Edwin H. Frohbieter
September 12th, 1932 - November 3rd, 2021
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Edwin's Obituary
Edwin Henry Frohbieter, Jr., 89, of St. Joseph, MI passed away after a brief recurrence of cancer on November 3, 2021.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ at 3001 Veronica Drive, St. Joseph, MI with Rev. Terry Tessari officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville, with Military rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8, 2021, at Starks Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ or The Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen. Those wishing to express condolences or sign the guest book may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Edwin was born September 12, 1932 in Evansville, Indiana to Edwin H. Sr. & Sudie (Wilson) Frohbieter. He graduated from Evansville College with degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War, but spent much of his service in the Arctic, where he was involved in building radar sites of the Distant Early Warning Line or DEW Line. Ed then worked at Whirlpool Corporation as a research engineer and inventor for 42 years until his retirement in 1993. He was married to Gayle Ludwig until she passed away from cancer in 1990. Together they had three children: Jeffery, Gregory, and Stephanie. He later married Marjorie (Krampe) Albee.
Ed was passionate about his projects, including refurbishing two classic Jaguars, and received over 30 patents for a wide range of inventions, including the twist tray ice maker and the half-moon ice body ice maker, both of which are still being produced today. He was also honored with the Elisha Gray II Award for his outstanding scientific achievements. He was especially proud of his home, which he designed and built. It featured a solar-heated indoor swimming pool, which was used to heat the house for over 20 years. This unique house was full of character and was featured in Mechanics Illustrated.
Over the years, Ed loved to travel and had visited most U.S. states. After retirement, he and Marge enjoyed winters in Tampa Bay for the last twenty years. He also took many trips and cruises to numerous countries. Ed was always good for a game of bridge or any other type of card game. For 50 years, he was a very involved member of Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ where he enjoyed singing in the choir.
Edwin is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Marjorie; children, Jeffery Frohbieter of Bridgman, MI, Gregory (Joelle) Frohbieter of O’Fallon, IL, and Stephanie (Larry) Spillane of Naples, FL; stepchildren, Dennis Albee of St. Joseph, MI, Jeannette (David) Cooke of Berrien Springs, MI, Jill (Mark) Lange of Zionsville, IN, and Doug (Jody) Albee of St. Joseph, MI; sisters Mary Nash Record of Martinsville, IN, Jo Frohbieter-Mueller of Evansville, IN; brothers, Jack (Cathy) Frohbieter of Cranbury, NJ, Gene (Ann) Frohbieter of Houston, TX; 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives. Ed was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Frohbieter, Sr., mother, Sudie Frohbieter, his first wife, Gayle Frohbieter, and stepdaughter, Jennifer Smith.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ at 3001 Veronica Drive, St. Joseph, MI with Rev. Terry Tessari officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville, with Military rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8, 2021, at Starks Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ or The Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen. Those wishing to express condolences or sign the guest book may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Edwin was born September 12, 1932 in Evansville, Indiana to Edwin H. Sr. & Sudie (Wilson) Frohbieter. He graduated from Evansville College with degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War, but spent much of his service in the Arctic, where he was involved in building radar sites of the Distant Early Warning Line or DEW Line. Ed then worked at Whirlpool Corporation as a research engineer and inventor for 42 years until his retirement in 1993. He was married to Gayle Ludwig until she passed away from cancer in 1990. Together they had three children: Jeffery, Gregory, and Stephanie. He later married Marjorie (Krampe) Albee.
Ed was passionate about his projects, including refurbishing two classic Jaguars, and received over 30 patents for a wide range of inventions, including the twist tray ice maker and the half-moon ice body ice maker, both of which are still being produced today. He was also honored with the Elisha Gray II Award for his outstanding scientific achievements. He was especially proud of his home, which he designed and built. It featured a solar-heated indoor swimming pool, which was used to heat the house for over 20 years. This unique house was full of character and was featured in Mechanics Illustrated.
Over the years, Ed loved to travel and had visited most U.S. states. After retirement, he and Marge enjoyed winters in Tampa Bay for the last twenty years. He also took many trips and cruises to numerous countries. Ed was always good for a game of bridge or any other type of card game. For 50 years, he was a very involved member of Zion St. Joe United Church of Christ where he enjoyed singing in the choir.
Edwin is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Marjorie; children, Jeffery Frohbieter of Bridgman, MI, Gregory (Joelle) Frohbieter of O’Fallon, IL, and Stephanie (Larry) Spillane of Naples, FL; stepchildren, Dennis Albee of St. Joseph, MI, Jeannette (David) Cooke of Berrien Springs, MI, Jill (Mark) Lange of Zionsville, IN, and Doug (Jody) Albee of St. Joseph, MI; sisters Mary Nash Record of Martinsville, IN, Jo Frohbieter-Mueller of Evansville, IN; brothers, Jack (Cathy) Frohbieter of Cranbury, NJ, Gene (Ann) Frohbieter of Houston, TX; 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives. Ed was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Frohbieter, Sr., mother, Sudie Frohbieter, his first wife, Gayle Frohbieter, and stepdaughter, Jennifer Smith.
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