AKKERMAN INGEBRAND FUNERAL HOME – MORA
Edward Halpaus, of Mora, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He was 76 years old.
FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at the Akkerman Ingebrand Funeral Home in Mora with Terry Tilton officiating.
VISITATION will be held one hour prior to the service.
INTERMENT will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.
Edward Halpaus, of Mora, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He was 76 years old.
Ed was born in Minneapolis on September 17, 1942 to Marjorie (Johnson) and Richard Halpaus. He grew up helping his parents in their grocery store and attended school on the near north side of Minneapolis. After high school, Ed attended the Minnesota School of Business. Upon graduation from Business school, Ed moved to Mora where he was employed at Mora Motors. He met and married Sharon, his wife of 54 years.
Ed then was employed in the insurance industry as an agent, and also was an owner of financial service agencies in various locations. During his career, Ed and Sharon had moved to several areas around the Midwest, but when Ed semi-retired in 1992, they returned to Mora. This afforded them the opportunity to spend more time with family.
In 1977, Ed became a Mason, which was an important part of his life. While being a member of the Masons, Ed made and enjoyed good friendships. He found joy in being of service on many projects, along with his fellow brothers from many lodges. Ed served in many capacities for the Masons. He started in the kitchen crew and ended as the Grand Master of Minnesota. Ed also received the Duane E. Anderson Award for Excellence in Masonic Education in 2003 and 2008.
Ed is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Sharon; daughters, Linda (Philip Halphen) Black, Barbara (Mahmoud Sonbol) Barlage and Heather (Jerry) Schaper; grandchildren, Abigal (Glenn Dembowski) Black, Jesse Black V, Grant Black, Erin (Matt) Etienne, Iven Barlage, Logan Barlage, Jeffrey (Adrianna) Schaper and Jake Schaper; great grandchildren, Levity Black, Saiya Martin and Hanah Etienne.
Alas my Brother, A Soul so gentle and so full of light, you will be missed!
For all of us at Ionic #186 who were privileged to know you, God’s rest to you. Alas, my Brother!
Rest In Peace Grand Master.
Sympathies to all of MW Ed’s Family.
From your brothers at Evergreen Lodge #46
Alas My Brother!
Dear Sharon and family,
Deepest sympathy at your loss. Ed & I had a long and enjoyable relationship when Ed was Grand Lodge Education Officer, we corresponded frequently and energetically – it was a pleasure to have known and worked with the prolific Brother Ed. When in MN two years ago I was able to spend some time with him at MN Grand Lodge, we picked up in mid-sentence where we left off several years before.
God Bless
When I die..Poem by Rumi
when my coffin
is being taken out
you must never think
I am missing this world
don’t shed any tears
don’t lament or feel sorry
I’m not falling
into a monster’s abyss
when you see
my corpse is being carried
don’t cry for my leaving
I’m not leaving
I’m arriving at eternal love
when you leave me
in the grave
don’t say goodbye
remember a grave is
only a curtain
for the paradise behind
you’ll only see me
descending into a grave
now watch me rise
how can there be an end
when the sun sets or
the moon goes down
it looks like the end
it seems like a sunset
but in reality it is a dawn
when the grave locks you up
that is when your soul is freed
Have you ever seen
a seed fallen to earth
not rise with a new life
why should you doubt the rise
of a seed named human
have you ever seen
a bucket lowered into a well
coming back empty
why lament for a soul
when it can come back
like Joseph from the well
when for the last time
you close your mouth
your words and soul
will belong to the world of
no place no time
Rumi
Just today I learned of Ed’s passing, and though we never met I still feel the pain of loss. I’m guessing it must’ve been slightly after 2000 when Ed joined our group on the Cooking Light Message board and became an instant hit with the folks there. We exchanged a few emails (usually of a humorous nature and having to do with the subject of lutefisk– my husband is Norwegian) and I was happy to find him again years later on Facebook. And in more recent times, I learned of his illness and prayed for him.
I’ll miss Ed, his warmth, his humor, and his obvious love for his wife and family. RIP, Friend. And condolences to Sharon, his family and the many people whose lives he touched.