Ed Holmgren

ISHPEMING — A longtime fixture in Marquette County radio broadcasting has passed away.

Edmund Holmgren, known as Ed to nearly everyone, died at the age of 85 on Friday at U.P. Health System-Marquette in the loving care of his family and hospital staff, according to his obituary available in today’s Mining Journal and online at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home website, bjorkandzhulkie.com/obituary/edmund-ed-holmgren.

He had spent the past two years living at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming.

Ed was a beloved and comforting voice on the radio at multiple stations in the west-end communities of Ishpeming and Negaunee for his calling of sports contests, particularly football and basketball, for more than a half century.

A Mining Journal sports notice from Septemeber 2014 said he was being honored for his 50 years of broadcasting during the halftime intermission of an Ishpeming-at-Westwood football game. He had also been honored as grand marshal of a parade in Ishpeming.

While probably best known for his radio work, he also did plenty of public address announcing as people who had heard him even once before almost always recognized his voice and delivery immediately.

He ended every radio broadcast with his signature quote, “It takes a good sport to make a sport good,” according to his obituary.

Holmgren was born June 1, 1940, in Ishpeming to the late Edmund C. and Laura (Endahl) Holmgren, and graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1958.

After studying at Northern Michigan University for two years, he started his work life at Delany Ford and later was hired at the Marquette County Road Commission, where he retired after 30 years in 1999.

He was a member of the Ishpeming Elks Club, where he had served as Grand Exalted Ruler and District Deputy, and also was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Ishpeming, Ishpeming Kiwanis Club, VASA, the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, and several local singing groups.

Ed joined Ted Matson as integral in starting and coaching American Legion baseball teams in the Ishpeming area in the 1960s.

Holmgren was approaching his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Susan after they married on Aug. 21, 1965. She survives him, as do his daughter Laurie Gardner and son Darren Holmgren, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

His family will greet relatives and friends at Bethany Lutheran Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, with an Elks prayer service at 12:45 p.m., funeral service at 1 p.m. and luncheon to follow in the church hall.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.6-10 1b