Edward "Ed" N. Hammerschmidt

Edward “Ed” N. Hammerschmidt, age 83 of Mankato died Saturday December 24, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems.

Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., January 10, 2023, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. www.mankatomortuary.com.

Edward N. Hammerschmidt was born December 29, 1938, to Edward and Emelia (Sturm) Hammerschmidt in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.  After graduating from Wabasso High School, he would contemplate becoming a farmer before meeting Irene (Burtzel) at a dance which would be the start of a relationship that would turn into 60 years of a loving marriage and family.  They started their family in Springfield where Ed began working at a mill and then Frank’s Bar.  He would later work at a gas station and grocery store all while temping at the U.S. Postal Service. They then moved to Mankato where he was the Cal Ripken of the U.S. Postal Service for 34 years, accumulating 2,700 hours of sick leave before retiring.  Edward proudly served in the National guard for 7 years and in the Army Reserves for 2 years.  He would later become Vice Commander and then Commander of the Legion Post in North Mankato.  He was also granted membership to the Forty & Eight-Voiture 281 Club. He was a lifelong practicing Catholic who always worked on his faith in God with a lifestyle to match.  Part of Eddie and Irene’s daily routine was praying the Legion of Mary together.  Many of his Sundays were spent as an usher, greeter, and Alter Server who at that time learned the mass in Latin.  He enjoyed being an active member with the Catholic Order of Foresters.  He was a quick-witted, fast talker who loved to crack jokes, laugh, and yodel in the bathtub.  He learned to tap dance at a young age and would continue the passion by entertaining at parties and nursing homes and ended up competing at the Minnesota State Fair talent show. An all-around entertaining man, his antics culminated in the making a one-of-a-kind video, called “Jig, Joke, and Jump.”  He volunteered his time and talents in many different ways over the years, and especially enjoyed his time with the Cub Scouts and as President of the Jaycees.  He was a self-studied history buff who kept up on the current events, always trying to understand the meaning of it all. He enjoyed yearly trips with family renting a cabin on Battle Lake, pursuing flea markets, and eating fast food.  In his own words, he could “never be caught up,” he’d “work like a dog” all week before finally “feeling like a human again” at the end of the weekend, only to “start over at midnight” knowing he was going to give the next day “110 percent.”           

Ed is survived by his wife, Irene Hammerschmidt; five children, Kevin (Sharon) Hammerschmidt of Mankato, Karen (Daniel) Meyer of Gibbon, Karla (Daniel) Ewert of Mankato, Keith (Jill) Hammerschmidt of Zumbrota, Kenny (Angela Duryee) Hammerschmidt of Mankato; 13 grandchildren, Rex, Sharry, Robby, Dustin, Felicia, Luke, Kirsten, Katie, Victoria, Isaiah, Tyler, Hannah, and Katie; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Theresa Kolp of Redwood Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Vanessa, and infant brother and sister.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by

Northview – North Mankato Mortuary.

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