Edward L. Eilers, 82, of Nappanee, died at 5 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at Hospice House, Elkhart, where he had been admitted Wednesday after an illness. 

He was born Dec. 15, 1932, in East Chicago, to Thomas J. and Ethel R. McColly.

Mr. Eilers lived most of his life in Nappanee. He was a 1951 graduate of Nappanee High School, where he scored the first touchdown for the Nappanee Bulldogs when they introduced football to their sports program. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He married Katherine Nannette Troxel  Oct. 8, 1952. She survives.

He is survived by his wife; a son: Brian (Debbie) Eilers, Syracuse; daughters: Michelle Metzler, Cindy (Ed) Shepherd, both of  Nappanee; Susan (Keith) Plake, Wellston, Mich.; Theresa (Randy) Ramer, Goshen; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers: James Eilers, Oakland, Calif.; and Dennis (Diane) Eilers, Tampa, Fla.

Mr. Eilers was a truck driver. He was a member of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Bremen and the Nappanee American Legion. He enjoyed riding motorcycles. Ed was a Notre Dame fan, White Sox and Chicago Bears fan. He loved to tell you that “cancer was not my problem, it was Notre Dame, White Sox and the Bears – all losers”

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at St. Dominic’s Church.  Funeral Mass will begin at 12 p.m. with Father Bob Lengerich officiating. Military services will follow service. Cremation will take place with inurnment at Bremen Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The Center for Hospice or Nappanee American Legion.

Arrangements are with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee.