Edwin A. "Ed" Tapio
March 23, 1927 ~ February 10, 2017 (age 89) 89 Years Old
Edwin Tapio Obituary
Edwin A. Tapio, age 89, passed away on February 10, 2017 at his home on Lake Kampeska in Watertown, SD. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Watertown Apostolic Lutheran Church.
Rev. Reino Maunu will officiate. Wanda Laue will be the organist with congregational singing.
Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Friday, February 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday. All are welcome.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by the Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Active pallbearers are: Ryan Tapio, Tyler Tapio, Drew Tapio and Wade Prouty.
Edwin Arnold Tapio was born on March 23, 1927, on a farm in Chassell, MI, to John and Hilda (Puuri) Tapio, the fifth of eleven children.
He graduated from Chassell High School in 1945.
After continuing farm work for a year, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served as a company clerk at Fort Bliss, Texas and then Fort Ord, Monterey, California.
In 1948, he enrolled at Michigan State University in East Lansing and studied Agriculture.
Following graduation in 1952, Edwin's first teaching position was in Pickford, MI, for two years.
He then attended Christian seminary at Northwestern College in Minneapolis, MN.
He accepted a position teaching Agriculture in Mankato, MN, and on weekends served as a traveling minister at several churches, one being in Lake Norden, SD, where he met his future wife, Janet Prouty.
They were married on Dec. 17, 1960, and lived in Mankato for a year then moved to Cleveland, MN, where he taught school for four years and they started a family.
In 1965, the family moved to Watertown where he accepted a position as a minister in the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Watertown and a teaching position at Waverly High School.
The following year he joined the J.C. Robinson Seed Co. as a District Manager supervising 65 dealers selling Golden Harvest Hybrids.
He continued in the ministry and Seed Company for 26 years.
The family grew to include five children. He enjoyed boating and fishing on the lake, making hockey rinks complete with lights on the lake, playing baseball and basketball with his children, and hunting in the fall.
He especially enjoyed Christian gatherings and attending church conventions.
Edwin is survived by his children: Douglas (Michelle) of Plymouth, MN, Daryl of Seattle, WA, Neal of Watertown, SD and Nathan (Elsa) of Mitchell, SD; 10 grandchildren: Ryan, Brandyn, Sarah, Tyler, Drew, Ashlyn, Josiah, Kahris, Emelia, and Brace; one great-grandchild: Oliver; three brothers: Albert of Washington, Alden (June) of Florida, Roy (Shirley) of Ironwood, MI, and Florida; two sisters: Lilian Heikkinen of Michigan, Ruth (Elmer) Liimatta of Chassell; one sister-in-law, Dorothea Prouty; three brothers-in-law: Ken Storm of Hancock, MI, Glenn (Peggy) Prouty of Hayti, SD, and Elton (Mary) Prouty of Vale, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Janet, who passed away October 12, 2011; one son, David; four sisters: Mildred Tikkanen, Helen Juntunen, Alice Kerr and Verna Storm; one brother, Paul; three sisters-in-law: Elfie Tapio, Arvilla Prouty, and Dorothy Prouty; and 4 brothers-in law: Alden Tikkanen, Ben Heikkinen, Edwin Juntunen and Galen Prouty.
When: February 17, 2017 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
When: February 18, 2017 11:00am
Location: Apostolic Lutheran Church-Watertown, SD
Address: 101 McLaughlin St Watertown , SD 57201
Rev. Reino Maunu will officiate. Wanda Laue will be the organist with congregational singing.
Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Friday, February 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday. All are welcome.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by the Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Active pallbearers are: Ryan Tapio, Tyler Tapio, Drew Tapio and Wade Prouty.
Edwin Arnold Tapio was born on March 23, 1927, on a farm in Chassell, MI, to John and Hilda (Puuri) Tapio, the fifth of eleven children.
He graduated from Chassell High School in 1945.
After continuing farm work for a year, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served as a company clerk at Fort Bliss, Texas and then Fort Ord, Monterey, California.
In 1948, he enrolled at Michigan State University in East Lansing and studied Agriculture.
Following graduation in 1952, Edwin's first teaching position was in Pickford, MI, for two years.
He then attended Christian seminary at Northwestern College in Minneapolis, MN.
He accepted a position teaching Agriculture in Mankato, MN, and on weekends served as a traveling minister at several churches, one being in Lake Norden, SD, where he met his future wife, Janet Prouty.
They were married on Dec. 17, 1960, and lived in Mankato for a year then moved to Cleveland, MN, where he taught school for four years and they started a family.
In 1965, the family moved to Watertown where he accepted a position as a minister in the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Watertown and a teaching position at Waverly High School.
The following year he joined the J.C. Robinson Seed Co. as a District Manager supervising 65 dealers selling Golden Harvest Hybrids.
He continued in the ministry and Seed Company for 26 years.
The family grew to include five children. He enjoyed boating and fishing on the lake, making hockey rinks complete with lights on the lake, playing baseball and basketball with his children, and hunting in the fall.
He especially enjoyed Christian gatherings and attending church conventions.
Edwin is survived by his children: Douglas (Michelle) of Plymouth, MN, Daryl of Seattle, WA, Neal of Watertown, SD and Nathan (Elsa) of Mitchell, SD; 10 grandchildren: Ryan, Brandyn, Sarah, Tyler, Drew, Ashlyn, Josiah, Kahris, Emelia, and Brace; one great-grandchild: Oliver; three brothers: Albert of Washington, Alden (June) of Florida, Roy (Shirley) of Ironwood, MI, and Florida; two sisters: Lilian Heikkinen of Michigan, Ruth (Elmer) Liimatta of Chassell; one sister-in-law, Dorothea Prouty; three brothers-in-law: Ken Storm of Hancock, MI, Glenn (Peggy) Prouty of Hayti, SD, and Elton (Mary) Prouty of Vale, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Janet, who passed away October 12, 2011; one son, David; four sisters: Mildred Tikkanen, Helen Juntunen, Alice Kerr and Verna Storm; one brother, Paul; three sisters-in-law: Elfie Tapio, Arvilla Prouty, and Dorothy Prouty; and 4 brothers-in law: Alden Tikkanen, Ben Heikkinen, Edwin Juntunen and Galen Prouty.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: February 17, 2017 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: February 18, 2017 11:00am
Location: Apostolic Lutheran Church-Watertown, SD
Address: 101 McLaughlin St Watertown , SD 57201
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edwin A. "Ed" Tapio, please visit our floral store.
Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.
How do you know Edwin A. "Ed" Tapio?
We are sorry for your loss.
Help others honor Edwin's memory.
Email
Print
Copy
Services
Ongoing
Online Event
Online Event
In Loving Memory Of
Edwin Tapio
March 23, 1927-February 10, 2017
Look inside to read what others
have shared
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.
You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Edwin A. "Ed" Tapio
© 2024 Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility