Edward T. Haeflinger

Edward Thomas Haeflinger, 92, passed on at 6:20 a.m., Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Winn Prairie Assisted Living in Freeport, IL, after a long and brave battle with cancer. Born March 17, 1926, St. Patrick's Day, in Chicago, IL, son of Robert and Olivia Haeflinger. Married, for more than 70 years, to Clara Elizabeth Kujawa in Chicago, on June 7, 1947. Predeceased by his parents and his brothers William (Marie) Haeflinger and James (Liz) Haeflinger. Survivors include his sister Peggy (Stan) Skalski of Homewood, IL; sons Paul (April) Haeflinger of Winnebago, Richard (Susan) Haeflinger of Harvard and Brian (Kelly) Haeflinger of Marengo; and daughters Christine (Mike) Beuthin of Bettendorf, IA and Nancy (Pepper) Burruss of DePere, WI; grandchildren Randall, Desirae, Katelynn, Amanda, Jon, Diann, Shane, Christina, Daniel, Alexa, Katlyn and Erin; and great-grandchild Adaline. Edward served in the United States Army as an airplane mechanic toward the close of WWII. He was very proud to participate in a South Alabama Honor Flight to Washington, DC, in 2012. Edward worked at Kellogg Switchboard in Bedford Park, IL, Elgin Watch Co. in Elgin, IL, Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, IL, and Swanson Tool Co. in Elk Grove Village, IL. He began as a draftsman and eventually became a plant manager before retiring and living in Foley, AL for 28 years. In Foley, Edward and Clara enjoyed the company of their friends, especially Wayne and Rita Verry, his walking buddies Rusty and Gary, and close friend Betty Arthurs, the view from their home on Wolf Bay and the vibrant family energies of the Gulf Shores area. Edward designed his Foley home and built much of it himself. He was a jack-of-all-trades, was a wealth of fix-it information, performed many of his own repairs, including rebuilding his own boat dock and replacing shingles on his own roof when in his 80's. Edward's last 2 months were spent at Winn Prairie Assisted Living, where he enjoyed the company of their staff and his fellow residents. Visitation is at 4-8 p.m. on Friday, April 13 at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, 504 N Walnut, Freeport, IL. On Saturday, April 14, visitation is at 10 a.m. and mass at 11 a.m. at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1400 Kiwanis Drive, Freeport, IL, 61032. In lieu of flowers, Clara asks you to please make donations in memory of Edward Haeflinger to St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, 601 W Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 36535 or to St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Edward will be buried at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Please sign Edward's guestbook and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com