Edward Laverne Dilno, age 90, of Stanton, passed away Tuesday evening, December 16, 2014 at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. 

The son of Elzie & Viva (Snider) Dilno, he was born on July 10, 1924 in Douglas Township. A proud U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Ed served in the American, European, and Asiatic-Pacific theatres and was a life-member of the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065 in Sheridan.

Ed retired from the former Gibson Refrigerator Company where he worked as an electrician and was a member of U.A.W. Local 137. He had had been a ham radio operator (K8BOO) since 1961… a hobby in which he made many friends over the airwaves and in person.

On October 17, 1944, in Stanton, he married the former Iretha Smith and together they enjoyed almost 69 years of marriage and raised three daughters until Iretha passed away on May 4, 2013. 

He was also preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Marjorie Eilar. 

Surviving are his three daughters, Beverley Jean & Charles Baxter of St. Louis, Cheryl Ann Peasley of Six Lakes, and Jacklyn Laverne Fachting of St. Louis; eleven grandchildren; twenty-seven great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; siblings-in-law, Alena Kimble and JoAnne & Lewis Nielsen, all of Stanton, Carl & Sandra Smith of Entrican, Charles & Maudene Smith of Portland, Jerry Smith of Leslie, Katherine Smith of Sidney, and Donna Smith of Sheridan; and many nieces and nephews.

A gathering to celebrate both Ed and Iretha's memory will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Lester J. Sitts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5065 in Sheridan from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. with committal service following at McBride Cemetery.  Instead of flowers, memorial contributions to Spectrum Health Hospice would be appreciated. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign an online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.ChristiansenCares.com 

Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, is entrusted with the arrangements.