Edward James Masterka, a popular, long-time area teacher and coach, and decorated veteran of two wars, passed away at his home, on Saturday March 26, 2011.
Ed was born to Edward W. and Mary (Strecha) Masterka in New Mexico on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1921, and was raised in the home which had been originally purchased by his paternal great-grandmother upon her arrival to the area. Although he became a good student with an inquisitive mind, Ed was more renowned for his athletic abilities. Much of this talent had been passed down from his father, himself a former minor league baseball player. However, Ed's mother probably enhanced his grace and skill on the playing field by seeing that Ed was schooled in tap and ballroom dancing. He remained an excellent dancer and gifted athlete for all of his life.
Like many men of his generation, Ed left school early to fight in World War II. He enlisted in the Navy, received flight instruction at Corry Naval Air Station, and saw combat in the South Pacific while serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin. Returning home after the war's end, Ed put his GI Bill to good use, and enrolled in college. Over the years earned a Bachelor, Master, and Specialist's degree in science from Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
Ed began his 45-year career in teaching in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also continued to play farm league baseball. He often recounted playing an exhibition game where he came up against the former big league pitcher Ewart "Dixie" Walker. During their confrontation the pitcher took offense to Ed's "digging in" his cleats, and two pitches came right at his head; then a third one struck Ed in the neck. The batter was walked, but learned his lesson. For learning and teaching life lessons were always a major component to Ed's life.
In 1950 the Chicago White Sox offered Ed a baseball contract. Unfortunately, at this very same time he was also called back to the military for duty in the Korean War, this time being drafted into the Army. Ed served with the 2nd Division, Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, and saw combat during several campaigns, including two epic battles known as Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. He also participated in the raid at the Koje-do POW camp, leading a team which helped smashed through Compound 85.
Following his honorable discharge, Ed returned again to Michigan, accepting teaching and coaching positions at several school districts, including Paw Paw, Climax, Richland and Gull Lake. Always a believer in order and discipline, Ed was also a gifted teacher, as attested by generations of former students who recall his many academic and life lessons, and high expectations of them. Many of these former students, now highly-educated, successful professionals, remark how college was never in their plans until they encountered Mr. Masterka. To this day it is a common occurrence for Ed's family to have complete strangers walk up to them, and then start relating how Ed positively affected their lives and was the greatest teacher they ever had.
Ed was always a voracious reader, amassing a library of several thousand volumes. He also traveled extensively, and enjoyed gardening. His classroom became a small museum, as it included his large, impressive collection of scientific artifacts.
In 2001 Ed was partially paralyzed from the effects of a stroke, and his final years became a struggle for him. Still, he kept busy with many important activities, including writing, listening to books on tape, and traveling. Having entered the world during an epic nighttime thunderstorm, Ed quietly departed at the sunrise of a bright and beautiful morning.
Ed was born to Edward W. and Mary (Strecha) Masterka in New Mexico on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1921, and was raised in the home which had been originally purchased by his paternal great-grandmother upon her arrival to the area. Although he became a good student with an inquisitive mind, Ed was more renowned for his athletic abilities. Much of this talent had been passed down from his father, himself a former minor league baseball player. However, Ed's mother probably enhanced his grace and skill on the playing field by seeing that Ed was schooled in tap and ballroom dancing. He remained an excellent dancer and gifted athlete for all of his life.
Like many men of his generation, Ed left school early to fight in World War II. He enlisted in the Navy, received flight instruction at Corry Naval Air Station, and saw combat in the South Pacific while serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin. Returning home after the war's end, Ed put his GI Bill to good use, and enrolled in college. Over the years earned a Bachelor, Master, and Specialist's degree in science from Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
Ed began his 45-year career in teaching in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also continued to play farm league baseball. He often recounted playing an exhibition game where he came up against the former big league pitcher Ewart "Dixie" Walker. During their confrontation the pitcher took offense to Ed's "digging in" his cleats, and two pitches came right at his head; then a third one struck Ed in the neck. The batter was walked, but learned his lesson. For learning and teaching life lessons were always a major component to Ed's life.
In 1950 the Chicago White Sox offered Ed a baseball contract. Unfortunately, at this very same time he was also called back to the military for duty in the Korean War, this time being drafted into the Army. Ed served with the 2nd Division, Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, and saw combat during several campaigns, including two epic battles known as Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. He also participated in the raid at the Koje-do POW camp, leading a team which helped smashed through Compound 85.
Following his honorable discharge, Ed returned again to Michigan, accepting teaching and coaching positions at several school districts, including Paw Paw, Climax, Richland and Gull Lake. Always a believer in order and discipline, Ed was also a gifted teacher, as attested by generations of former students who recall his many academic and life lessons, and high expectations of them. Many of these former students, now highly-educated, successful professionals, remark how college was never in their plans until they encountered Mr. Masterka. To this day it is a common occurrence for Ed's family to have complete strangers walk up to them, and then start relating how Ed positively affected their lives and was the greatest teacher they ever had.
Ed was always a voracious reader, amassing a library of several thousand volumes. He also traveled extensively, and enjoyed gardening. His classroom became a small museum, as it included his large, impressive collection of scientific artifacts.
In 2001 Ed was partially paralyzed from the effects of a stroke, and his final years became a struggle for him. Still, he kept busy with many important activities, including writing, listening to books on tape, and traveling. Having entered the world during an epic nighttime thunderstorm, Ed quietly departed at the sunrise of a bright and beautiful morning.
Edward James Masterka, a popular, long-time area teacher and coach, and decorated veteran of two wars, passed away at his home, on Saturday March 26, 2011.
Ed was born to Edward W. and Mary (Strecha) Masterka in New Mexico on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1921, and was raised in the home which had been originally purchased by his paternal great-grandmother upon her arrival to the area. Although he became a good student with an inquisitive mind, Ed was more renowned for his athletic abilities. Much of this talent had been passed down from his father, himself a former minor league baseball player. However, Ed's mother probably enhanced his grace and skill on the playing field by seeing that Ed was schooled in tap and ballroom dancing. He remained an excellent dancer and gifted athlete for all of his life.
Like many men of his generation, Ed left school early to fight in World War II. He enlisted in the Navy, received flight instruction at Corry Naval Air Station, and saw combat in the South Pacific while serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin. Returning home after the war's end, Ed put his GI Bill to good use, and enrolled in college. Over the years earned a Bachelor, Master, and Specialist's degree in science from Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
Ed began his 45-year career in teaching in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also continued to play farm league baseball. He often recounted playing an exhibition game where he came up against the former big league pitcher Ewart "Dixie" Walker. During their confrontation the pitcher took offense to Ed's "digging in" his cleats, and two pitches came right at his head; then a third one struck Ed in the neck. The batter was walked, but learned his lesson. For learning and teaching life lessons were always a major component to Ed's life.
In 1950 the Chicago White Sox offered Ed a baseball contract. Unfortunately, at this very same time he was also called back to the military for duty in the Korean War, this time being drafted into the Army. Ed served with the 2nd Division, Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, and saw combat during several campaigns, including two epic battles known as Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. He also participated in the raid at the Koje-do POW camp, leading a team which helped smashed through Compound 85.
Following his honorable discharge, Ed returned again to Michigan, accepting teaching and coaching positions at several school districts, including Paw Paw, Climax, Richland and Gull Lake. Always a believer in order and discipline, Ed was also a gifted teacher, as attested by generations of former students who recall his many academic and life lessons, and high expectations of them. Many of these former students, now highly-educated, successful professionals, remark how college was never in their plans until they encountered Mr. Masterka. To this day it is a common occurrence for Ed's family to have complete strangers walk up to them, and then start relating how Ed positively affected their lives and was the greatest teacher they ever had.
Ed was always a voracious reader, amassing a library of several thousand volumes. He also traveled extensively, and enjoyed gardening. His classroom became a small museum, as it included his large, impressive collection of scientific artifacts.
In 2001 Ed was partially paralyzed from the effects of a stroke, and his final years became a struggle for him. Still, he kept busy with many important activities, including writing, listening to books on tape, and traveling. Having entered the world during an epic nighttime thunderstorm, Ed quietly departed at the sunrise of a bright and beautiful morning.
Ed was born to Edward W. and Mary (Strecha) Masterka in New Mexico on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1921, and was raised in the home which had been originally purchased by his paternal great-grandmother upon her arrival to the area. Although he became a good student with an inquisitive mind, Ed was more renowned for his athletic abilities. Much of this talent had been passed down from his father, himself a former minor league baseball player. However, Ed's mother probably enhanced his grace and skill on the playing field by seeing that Ed was schooled in tap and ballroom dancing. He remained an excellent dancer and gifted athlete for all of his life.
Like many men of his generation, Ed left school early to fight in World War II. He enlisted in the Navy, received flight instruction at Corry Naval Air Station, and saw combat in the South Pacific while serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin. Returning home after the war's end, Ed put his GI Bill to good use, and enrolled in college. Over the years earned a Bachelor, Master, and Specialist's degree in science from Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
Ed began his 45-year career in teaching in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also continued to play farm league baseball. He often recounted playing an exhibition game where he came up against the former big league pitcher Ewart "Dixie" Walker. During their confrontation the pitcher took offense to Ed's "digging in" his cleats, and two pitches came right at his head; then a third one struck Ed in the neck. The batter was walked, but learned his lesson. For learning and teaching life lessons were always a major component to Ed's life.
In 1950 the Chicago White Sox offered Ed a baseball contract. Unfortunately, at this very same time he was also called back to the military for duty in the Korean War, this time being drafted into the Army. Ed served with the 2nd Division, Company B, 38th Infantry Regiment, and saw combat during several campaigns, including two epic battles known as Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. He also participated in the raid at the Koje-do POW camp, leading a team which helped smashed through Compound 85.
Following his honorable discharge, Ed returned again to Michigan, accepting teaching and coaching positions at several school districts, including Paw Paw, Climax, Richland and Gull Lake. Always a believer in order and discipline, Ed was also a gifted teacher, as attested by generations of former students who recall his many academic and life lessons, and high expectations of them. Many of these former students, now highly-educated, successful professionals, remark how college was never in their plans until they encountered Mr. Masterka. To this day it is a common occurrence for Ed's family to have complete strangers walk up to them, and then start relating how Ed positively affected their lives and was the greatest teacher they ever had.
Ed was always a voracious reader, amassing a library of several thousand volumes. He also traveled extensively, and enjoyed gardening. His classroom became a small museum, as it included his large, impressive collection of scientific artifacts.
In 2001 Ed was partially paralyzed from the effects of a stroke, and his final years became a struggle for him. Still, he kept busy with many important activities, including writing, listening to books on tape, and traveling. Having entered the world during an epic nighttime thunderstorm, Ed quietly departed at the sunrise of a bright and beautiful morning.
