Edward S. Scawinski

EDWARD S. SCAWINSKIPassed away unexpectedly at his Elburn home, early Thursday morning, September 20, 2007 when he was apparently stricken with a heart attack. Known to everyone as "Ed from Elburn", he leaves a stunned family and community who remember him for his outgoing nature and his irrepressible practical jokes. BORN / EARLY YEARSEd was born to this life on the same date he left it, September 20, 1954. He grew up in Downers Grove and moved to Warrenville in 1964. Following graduation from Wheaton North High School (class of 1972) he began a career at Bell Labs. As the company grew from Bell to Lucent Technologies, Ed’s career progressed as well, from dock worker to stationery engineer. MARRIAGE & FAMILYIn 1977 he met Kathleen Brinkman at the wedding of a mutual friend. Their mutual attraction turned into matrimony and they were wed on September 6, 1980. They made their home in Warrenville in the same house where Ed grew up. There too, they began their family and were blessed with Derek, Danielle "Nell" and Brian. In 1988 they moved to Elburn where Ed built his family a home of their own. It was Ed’s pride and joy with many special features built just for Kathleen and the kids. Of course, it didn’t hurt that it was right next door to Hughes Creek Golf Course – one of Ed’s two favorite sports! The other was baseball. From the time the kids were little, Ed coached with other dad’s in Elburn and loved every minute of it. An avid Cubs and Bears fan, he also enjoyed a game of pool and was very fond of fishing. In many ways, Ed was also a "renaissance man" who played guitar, had a gift for art, creative writing and loved to cook. He was always doctoring up a new recipe and figuring out some way to make his wife and kids the unwitting "guinea pigs". The man whose imagination never slept, came up all sorts of gifts and gags when it came to birthdays and anniversaries. But perhaps Ed was most famous for his "Private Label" booze bottles. He would spend hours writing, printing, cutting and gluing crazy labels on his friend’s favorite beverage. No two were ever the same. They were one-of-a-kind originals, just like their maker, "Ed from Elburn". SURVIVORS He is survived by his wife Kathleen, Three children: Derek (Melanie) Scawinski of Courtland, IL,Danielle "Nell" Scawinski of Elburn, IL andBrian (Rosie Mueller) Scawinski of Courtland, IL;Three sisters: Elizabeth Sabor of Radcliff, KY, Eleanor (Stan) Joray of Berwyn, IL and Cathleen (Robert) Johnson of Spring Grove, IL;Several nieces and nephews: (the late Faye’s) Richie, Cindy, Michael and Sue(Elizabeth’s) Lori, Larry and Lisa(Eleanor’s)Katie, Troy and Christine(Cathleen’s)Sarah and Rachael JohnsonHis mother-in-law: Geraldine (Daniel) Brinkman-Wood,Three brothers-in-law and their families: James (Amy) Brinkman, (Alex, Connor, Abbey )Herbert (Micki) Brinkman, (Jessica, Katherine, Elyse and Herby) andEric "Rory" Brinkman.PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Eleanor (Nauman) ScawinskiOne sister, Faye Bocinsky and one brother-in-law, Richard Bocinsky.One niece Sue Sabor andOne nephew, Stanley Joray,His father-in-law, Herbert BrinkmanMEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Ed’s name to benefit local charities. Memorials checks may be made to the Ed Scawinski Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information, call 1-800-8-CONLEY.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 25, 2007 from 4pm to 8pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. His funeral service will be held Wednesday, September 26 at 10:30am at the funeral home. The Rev. Mark Meyer, pastor of the Grace United Methodist Church, Maple Park, IL will officiate.

Interment will follow at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn, Il.