oast Guard Auxiliary. Ed spent many hours on the Madison area lakes, patrolling with his fellow Auxiliarists and teaching marine safety classes. Ed held several positions in the Auxiliary over the years culminating with 2 years as District Captain 9th Western Region. Ed enjoyed sailing/pontooning, camping, cooking, biking, playing bridge, reading, traveling and especially, times spent with his family and friends. Grandpa Ed was famous for his planned scavenger hunts on the annual family fall camping trip and for getting all his grandkids hooked on the Harry Potter series. After 6 years of "snowbird" trips from WI to AZ, Ed and Kay moved permanently to the Phoenix area in 2015 where they met a new community of friends and enjoyed more time with Chris and Kevin, in addition to visits from the rest of the family escaping the Wisconsin/Minnesota winters to enjoy the Arizona sunshine. Ed is survived by Kay, his wife of 63 years; daughters: Cheryl (Skip) Wright of Spicer MN, Cindy (Dave) Allen of Deerfield, WI, Christine (Kevin) Ronson of Peoria, AZ; grandchildren Colin Wright, Jackson Wright, Kelsey (Chad) Mulder, and Amanda Allen; sister Shirlee (Frank-deceased on 1/4/2019) Kirby, and nephews, Mark Kirby and Mike (Karen) Kirby. Thank you to Hospice of the Valley for their tender care of Ed during his final days and for their exceptional care and attention for our family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed's honor to Hospice of the Valley, 14066 W. Waddell Rd, Surprise, AZ 85379. We will miss him dearly but are thankful that God wrapped Ed/dad/grandpa in His loving arms, to sail above the trouble waves of illness, to the most beautiful sunset imaginable. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord our God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9b Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3325 East Washington Avenue, Madison 608-249-6666