Edward J. Lammers

Edward J. Lammers, 89 of Yankton, South Dakota departed this earth in the arms of angels and entered the presence of our Lord and his eternal home on January 25, 2018 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Memorial Mass will be 10:30 AM on February 17, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota with Reverend DCruz Nicholas officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton with military honors provided by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post No. 791. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on February 16, 2018 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a rosary at 6:45 PM and a Vigil service at 7:00 PM. Ed was born July 24, 1928 to Dr. Paul and Mary Lammers in Madison, Nebraska. He married Margaret Heinen on June 20, 1953 who passed away in 2007. Soon after graduating from Marquette University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ed began his 34 year career with Caterpillar Tractor Company. His employment with Caterpillar took his family abroad to live in both Belgium and Japan. He also had short term assignments in China and France. During employment and into many years of retirement he continued to travel stateside as well as abroad to many other countries and continents. Ed was always very busy, active and adventurous. Throughout his life his interests and activities included scuba diving, golf, tennis, skiing, biking, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, travel and aviation. He also considered himself to be a “hobby farmer” and active businessman. Ed claimed bragging rights to riding his bike with different organizations across many states that totaled nearly 20,000 miles. He was very proud of his unique experiences including skiing at the age of 88, and always spoke of how humbling of an experience it was to volunteer each time for Ski for Light (a non-profit organization that assists visually and mobility impaired people to experience skiing). Besides Ski for Light, many of his interests developed into volunteering with the Young Eagles at the local airport, doing tax preparation assistance for senior citizens, serving with the Knights of Columbus, and multiple volunteer experiences with the Superior National Forest in the Boundary Waters. It should also be noted that he is a veteran and we are grateful for his military service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He treasured and cherished the many relationships with individuals who served alongside him. Ed loved his friends and family very much and held a special place in his heart for all of them. He was a dedicated, loving father and his children are ever so grateful for all that he did in providing for them. It broke our hearts to lose him, but he didn’t go alone for part of us went with him and he will continue to live in our hearts. Surviving are two sons, Steve (Christina) Lammers of Tremont, Illinois and Scott Lammers of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two daughters, Karen (Mike) Easley of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Mary Jo (Roger) Barbeau of Lafayette, Colorado; five grandchildren: Danielle (John Paul) Cook, Christina Barbeau, Marc Barbeau, Megan Archuleta and Jesse Archuleta; and two great-grandsons, Hendrix and Jasper Cook. He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his only sibling, Dr. Ann Lasek, who recently passed away in December. To post an online sympathy message visit wintzrayfuneralhome.com.