Edward Charles Budack's Obituary
Ed was born in Wapato, North Dakota on September 2, 1925 in a family of seven, parents Ed, Sr. and Jenny two brother's John and Lyle and two sisters Alice and Mary. They grew up in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Ed's life rotated around the military when he first was drafted at the age of 17 in the Navy. After the war like many soldiers he married Margaret and started a family Jennifer, Ed III and Robert. He recalled that he lived with Margaret's parents upstairs in their home while he drove a truck for Fergus Dairy for a few months. He finally got on at PH Gust Elevator Grain, where he bought & sold Purina feed until Jan. 1951. While in the National Guard, Ed was called to active duty by President Truman. Ed was an avid outdoorsman, a camper, hunter and fisherman, he took all his children into the woods one day and taught them to bait a hook, cast a line and catch a fish. He then taught them to clean and cook it. The kids were shown how to load and shoot a gun. He taught us to hammer a nail and saw a board, and use a drill. The family always worked together. The second half of his life found him in Washington with his family. Ed was working for the Washington State Liquor Control Board by 1975 and one day he was sent to work at the Westgate Liquor Store where he met Anita, marrying her ten years later. Ed retired as the manager of the Fircrest Liquor Store. After retirement their lives didn't stop, they had bought the -Å"Winnie- a few years earlier and enjoyed traveling to California, Nevada, Eastern Washington to get fruit. On the 4th of July Ed and Anita and Ed's whole family went camping He shared his joy of hunting and fishing trips with family & friends. Nothing was off limits; there were many trips to try to catch crab at Westport or up to Des Moines to try for squid and even attempts to catch smelt to smoke. This all added to his joy of cooking and entertaining.Ed will be sorely missed by brother John (Alice ), sister Mary Allsop, Children: Edward 3rd (Rose Crocco), Jennifer (Ben Harris), and Robert, Robin Griffin (Joyce), Linda Hays, Grandchildren: Edward 4th(Sally), Charlet (Dave Loper), Paul (Amy), Sherry (Clinton Morris), John Allen Budack, Robert, Nelson Monroe (Karla), Patricia Crocco, Mike Harris, Great-Grandchildren : Nicole Ann Nubile, DaVonte Michael Crocco, Tianna Rose-Marie Crocco, Brian Budack, Robin Budack, Kelly Morris, Matthew Morris, Megan Ann Matthees, Corey Clayton Matthees, Mary Monroe, Heather Monroe, Rebecca Monroe Great-Great-Grandchildren: Anavah Crocco Nephews and nieces: Mike Queree (Tina), Joe Allsop, Jr., Allison (George Phaltzgraff), Linda (Tom Herrgott) Karen (Todd Deal) Great-Nieces & Nephews: McKenzie (Jason Field), Abigail Ann Deal, Anna Caroline Deal Christina Allsop, Bethany Allsop, Tricia Allsop Elise Pfaltzgraff, Emily Pfaltzgraff, George E Pfaltzgraff, Jr., Brianne Herrgott
Heroic or Meritorious Achievement -"The Bronze Star
Ed's life rotated around the military when he first was drafted at the age of 17 and joined the Navy, he received the WWII Victory Medal for service and left the service in 1947. His occupation during this time was a Navy- medic, pharmacist with rank PhM3/C. Ed helped build a hospital in the Philippines & Okinawa. While in the National Guard, Ed was called to active duty by President Truman. His first assignment was Fort Rucker, Ala. He was in the infantry and trained troops and accompanied them to Korea built trenches and stayed throughout the war. He was sent home on a ship that took so long that he missed Christmas, while others were able to fly home on time. He decided to make the Army his career. In 1961 Ed was stationed in Australia and loved it. Ed was acquainted with Australia's military. He served with them during his 30 day assignment. The focus of the assignment was a power plant -Å"Snowy Mountain Scheme-. He held a live koala bear at a preserve for Koalas. Then he went back to Hawaii from 1961-65, he was a VIP escort, TWIX. He escorted General Westmoreland, got him through so fast that the Governor of Hawaii missed him. By the end of 1965 the Vietnam War was in full swing and Ed's tour took him there. He was combat infantry, he grew from Echo Platoon Leader to Company Commander in four years, MACV advised the Vietnamese on training. Ed retired on 5/31/1969 as a Major, but not before earning a Bronze Star in 1966.
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