Edward F. Berdice

Funeral Mass for Edward F. Berdice, 76, of Aurora, will be 10am Monday, March 31, 2014 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Aurora with Fr. Steven Daigle as celebrant.  Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00-5:00pm at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora and will continue for one hour  prior to the mass at church.  Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ed Berdice Scholarship fund set up at the Northern State Bank, Aurora, MN.   Ed died Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at Essentia Health in Duluth, MN.   He was born December 26, 1937 in Aurora, MN to Frank and Katherine Berdice.  Ed was a graduate of Aurora High School, attended Eveleth Jr. College and served in the US Army.  On September 2, 1972 he married Susan Ohlin in Moose Lake, MN.  Ed worked for Erie Mining Company and retired from LTV Steel with many years of service.   Known throughout the Iron Range for his devotion in helping young athletes succeed in the athletics and lifetime skills, Ed spend countless years devoted to his love of sports.  He assisted in coaching basketball, baseball, softball and hockey at the high school and college levels in the communities of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes, Ely, Eveleth and Virginia.  Ed devoted his hours and monies building, fixing and repairing hockey rinks, softball and baseball fields, organized and promoted youth clinics for the Mesabi East High School, opened, supervised and taught athletics at "open gym" Sunday nights throughout the school year.   Ed was a wonderful athlete while participating in athletics at the Aurora High School.  He lettered in basketball, baseball and football.  He participated in the State Basketball Tournament in 1956, tried out for the Minnesota Twins and continued to play throughout most of his adult life.   Ed's love of community went much further than his interest in sports.  Being a devout Catholic, he truly was a servant of the Lord.  He supported several church endeavors, contributed in many ways to the support and success of the Northern Lights Music Festival, was instrumental in making sure the collecting of aluminum cans continued after the Aurora Centennial for support of the Fourth of July, the NLIM Festival and several other community activities.  Unknown to most, he helped many students financially in their future endeavors. In 2001, the City of Aurora named the Pine Grove Park ballfield the Ed Berdice Field.      Survivors include his siblings: Katie Schmitz of Aurora, Anna Rose (Bill) Forward of Aurora,  Frances White of Texas, Carl (Lois) Berdice of Aurora, and Don Berdice of Texas; several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.   Ed is preceded in death by his parents and his wife Susan in 2006.