Mr. Edmund Tessman — husband, father, grandfather, educator, and consummate craftsman — passed away on September 5, 2020, unexpectedly but peacefully at home in Red Deer, Alberta, at the age of 78 years. Ed is remembered by his beloved wife Maxene, his children Kara (Kevin Claerhout), Kent (Jennifer), and Dean (Andrea), and his grandchildren Ryan and Grant, Oliver and Harrison, and Anastasia and Avery.
Ed was born on March 30, 1942 in the village of Bialobloto, Poland, to German parents. After World War II, at not quite six years of age, he left East Germany with his family for West Germany, wading across a river in the February cold. He would stay with his parents in West Germany until he was 12, when they crossed the Atlantic then most of Canada before settling in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He began a new school in a new country, in a new language that he didn’t yet speak (but he was excellent in math!).
It was also in Medicine Hat that Ed met Maxene, the love of his life, and they were married in 1966.
Ed received his education degree from the University of Alberta in 1968. He began his teaching career in Grande Prairie, then a few years later brought his young family south to Innisfail, becoming Vice Principal at Innisfail Jr./Sr. High, then Principal in Bowden and subsequently Spruce View. While teaching he even managed to return to school, at nights and during the summer, and received a Master of Education degree from the University of Calgary in 1981.
Ed built the family house in Innisfail with his own hands — he knew every board and every nail, every wire and pipe — and lived there with Maxene for 44 years, first raising their daughter and sons, then welcoming visits when their children returned with grandchildren for many years after. Ed and Maxene finally sold the Innisfail house in 2019 and moved to Red Deer, where Ed busied himself once again with his tools, remaking a new home for the two of them.
His family was very important to him. It mattered to Ed that the family should spend time together, sit down at the table together, travel together, and grow up together. He was their provider, protector, and champion. He was, for his children, a model of what a parent could and should be.
Ed would become an avid golfer, enjoying the game with Maxene for many years. He was a long-time member of the Innisfail Golf Course, and its President in 1999. After retiring from teaching he even spent a number of summers working at the golf course as a greenskeeper. He became a skilled winemaker, as well, and friends often enjoyed the carefully aged fruits of his and Maxene’s labour.
It was also in retirement that Ed and Maxene were able to travel, not just on regular trips to Mexico and Palm Springs, but also around the world to Australia, China, and most recently to Europe where, for the first time since leaving, Ed visited the place where he grew up.
In 2016, Ed and Maxene celebrated 50 years of marriage together.
For all his time in Innisfail, Ed was an active member of the congregation of Peace Lutheran Church, and was always on hand to take part, whether by serving on the church council or working on a major renovation. He also served the community as a member of the Innisfail Lions Club for many years, including as President from 1982 to 1983.
Ed Tessman was dedicated to his family, skilled with his hands, conscientious, determined to do things right, and uncompromising in his character. His family and friends will love him, miss him, and remember him always.
Due to Covid-19, a Private Family Service will be held. The Service will be live streamed, so please continue watching the Heartland Funeral Services Website for information to login to the Celebration of Life.
If desired, Memorial Donations in Ed’s honor may be made directly to the Tom Baker Cancer Foundation, 1331, 29 St. N.W. Calgary, Alberta, T2N 9Z9, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation, PO Box 460, Stn K, Toronto, On. M4P 9Z9. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd. 4415 – 49 Street Innisfail, Alberta Phone: 403.227.0006 Fax: 403.227.6437

• Date : 2020-09-22
• Location : www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com - Innisfail