Edward G. Cressman

Ed died Saturday, February 1st at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington Twp., Pennsylvania after being ill for a number of months.He was 93 years old. Edward was born September 9th, 1920 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania to William and Ida (Hennessy) Cressman.  He was one of fourteen children.  He received his formal education in Norristown, PA.  After his schooling he went to work doing various jobs in the area.  Having no car, he would walk to these jobs.In 1942, Edward was drafted into the United States Armed Forces during the height of WW II.  He served in the Asian and Pacific Theatre, specifically on the islands of the Philippines and New Guinea.  He was honorably discharged in January of 1946.Edward came back to the Pennsylvania area where he began working in the woolen mills in that area.  He worked in these mills for about ten years, some of the time working in the scrapyard.  He later went to work for the Upper Marion and Plymouth Railroad as a gandy dancer.  He worked here for about twenty years before he retired and moved to Pine City, Minnesota with his friend Wilbert "Bud" Schumacher who was also working for the railroad.  They purchased a house on 7th Street in 1981 and lived there until Wilbert's death in December of 2008.  Edward continued to live here in Pine City for several more months before moving back to live with his brother in Ambler, PA.  While living here in PA., Ed would help his brother with flower sales as well as help him in taking care of animals they were raising at their residence.Bud and Ed's house in Pine City was unforgettable in that they would decorate their front yard with seasonal crafts and beautiful flowers.  Every thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas and other seasons, they would decorate with appropriate decorations for that time of the year.  Ed also enjoyed gardening and each growing season would have beautiful flowers and a great vegetable garden.Ed was preceded in death by his parents, ten brothers and sisters and friend Wilbert "Bud" Schumacher.  He is survived by sisters Pearl (Ed) Beckwith of Trapp, PA., Darlene Van Elswyk of Oregon and brother Pete Cressman of Ambler, PA.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives.A Committal Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15th at Swanson Funeral Chapel, 665 3rd Ave. SW, Pine City.  After the service, interment with Military Honors by the Minnesota National Guard, Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51 and Novak-Milliren VFW Post #4258 will be held at Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City.