Edward F. Bartch, 69, passed away on February 6, 2009, at his home after seven challenging and courageous years living with Multiple Myeloma Cancer.\r\nA beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend, Eddie was surrounded by family and friends until his death. After being diagnosed in December, 2001 with Multiple Myeloma (cancer of the blood), Eddie underwent two bone marrow transplants at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His strength has been an inspiration to all who knew him.\r\nEddie was born in Cloquet, MN on January 22, 1940, to Duane and Ruth Bartch. He attended St. Paul Park High School and graduated in 1958. He attended the University of Minnesota where he received his degree in horticulture.\r\nOn June 16, 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia "Ginny" Bailey at St. Thomas Aquinas church in St. Paul Park, MN.\r\nHe began working at Bailey Nurseries in Newport, MN in 1965. In 1974 the family moved to Charles City, Iowa where he was Production Manager for Sherman Nursery. In 1979, Ed and his family moved to Eau Claire, WI where he purchased Arnie's Ski and Garden Center. He retired in 1995.\r\nEd continued his passion for horticulture the rest of his life by growing beautiful vegetable and flower gardens and also a tree farm where he raised and sold shade trees. His other passions were hunting deer on his land and elk in Oregon with his son Jon. He also loved fishing for walleye in Ely, MN, playing cards with family and friends and attending Regis High School sporting events. Ed was also an avid reader. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic. His church family (The Newman Parish) was very important to him. His fellow parishioners, including the students, offered him friendship and support. Faith, family and friends were central in his life. \r\nEd wanted to thank his family, friends and neighbors for their help and support during his illness. A special thank you to the doctors at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Burns and his staff in Eau Claire and to Dr. Shinners.\r\nEd is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Ginny; his children Michael Bartch of Eau Claire, WI, Jonathan (Jennifer) Bartch of Dayton, OR, Amy Brunette of Eau Claire, WI, and Christopher (Kris) Bartch of River Falls, WI; his mother, Ruth Bartch of Cloquet, MN; a brother, Tim (Joyce) Bartch of Arizona; two sisters, Patricia (Gary) Phillips of Florida and Sharlene (Eugene) Zilge of Cottage Grove, MN. Ed was a loving and devoted grandfather to his grandchildren Nicholas Kinney, Lauren and Jacob Brunette, Emerson and Benjamin Bartch, Samantha, Abigail, and Madelyn Bartch.\r\nEd was preceded in death by his father, Duane; a brother, Gary; and father and mother-in-law, Gordon and Margaret Bailey.\r\nMemorials in Ed's name should be directed to Regis High School, 2100 Fenwick Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701; or The Multiple Myeloma Foundation, online at www.multiplemyeloma.org.\r\nMass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2009, at Newman Parish, at the Ecumenical Religious Center in Eau Claire, with Father George R. Szews celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the Mass at church on Monday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Eau Claire.

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