Edward Richard Kissell

letter to Ed and Judy Pelz, January 2004:

 I want to update you on what has happened to me since dec 3rd.  This goes back 76 years years ago.  I was born on my grandfather's farm in Markham Illinois in 1928.  We did not have any electricity, we had kerosene lamps.  We even had an outhouse.  My birth was not even recorded.  I found this out when I went to get a marriage license.  Thank God my folks had me baptized in Blue Island at St. Benedict's Catholic Church.  I was able to use it to get my marriage license.  But when I was about 6 mos old I got rheumatic fever which affects our heart.  I did not know this until I graduated from high school and joined the Army.  The examining doctor told me that I had a heart murmur.  As the years went by I had several examinations, each time the doctors would tell me I had a heart murmur.  During the years I was very active in running and other sports.  I even ran the Los Angeles Marathon and finished it when I was 60 years old.  I used to run 30 miles a week for many years.  A couple of years ago my primary doctor, who I will see every 6 mo, said "Ed, I think that heart murmur is changing.  Soon you will have to get surgery on it."  Well, on Dec 3rd I went to my Rotary Club meeting and after the meeting I went back to my office.  There was not much for me to do so I told the girls in the office that I was going to go to the lake, which is about 4 miles away, and see if I could catch a couple of fish.  I parked my Yukon and got my gear out and walked down to the shoreline, set down my chair and fished till it was starting to get dark.  I picked my gear up and walked up the hill about 100 yards to the back of my Yukon.  I was completely out of breath and I had a sharp pain in my left arm by the elbow.  I stood there for a few minutes and the pain and my breathing came back to normal.  I drove back to my home which is about 4 miles and told LaVerne about it.  The next morning I made an appointment to see my doctor.  At 3:00 I was in his office and he examined me.  He gave me 3 electrocardiograms.  He said, "Ed, you have an erratic heartbeat.  I am giving you this letter admitting you to the hospital and I want you to go there now.  My heartbeat was 125 and 90, up and down.  Of course, this is Friday, late, and they admitted me but the cardiologist would not be able to start tests until Monday.  This they did.  It is amazing what they can do.  They showed me what my heart was doing.  It was the aortic valve that was not working properly.  He explained its workings and I could see it on the monitor.  Then they put some red dye in the veins that go to my heart.  One of the veins was kinked and was not connecting to my heart.  The doctor said this did not happen overnight.  It took several years to get to this state and did I ever see any signs in advance.  I began to think about this.  I got a new bike last march and was riding it but I could only ride about a mile before I was winded.  I thought I needed to build up to get my breathing back.  This did not happen.  I was having heart trouble then  and did not realize it.  I was riding the bike 3 times a week.   The doctors told me I needed a new heart valve and 3 bypass arteries.  They did the operation on Dec 7th.  They used a synthetic valve rather than a pig valve.  A pigs valve lasts about 6 to 8 years.  A synthetic valve lasts 24 years.  I fugre at 76 plus 24 makes 100.  That will be enough.  The operation took 6 hours and believe me, this is no walk in the park.  My heart showed no damage and the doctor said the heart started up with the first shock.  I am now in the 5th week and only starting to feel good.  My chest still hurts.  The doctor said recovery takes 2 to 3 mo.  I am walking now and riding my stationary bike 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.  So far everything is going well. My blood pressure is a little high yet.  They are working on that.  I hope you reading this letter of what happened to me will give some in site.  Listen to your body.  Whatever you do, do not smoke.  I never smoked.  If you do, please, stop.  Try to convey to the younger set, do not smoke.  I want to thank you for your cards and visits at the hospital and at my home.  It means so much to me.  You all are so precious to me.        Ed

Kissell, Edward Richard

Edward Richard Kissell passed away peacefully on March 22 surrounded by his family. He was born on October 7, 1928 in Chicago, grew up in Markham, Illinois, and graduated from Thornton Township High School and was an Eagle Scout. He was married to his grammar school sweetheart and love of his life, La Verne, for 64 years. Ed was a self-starter and adventurer who moved his young family from Illinois, to sunny Covina in 1954. A mechanic by trade, he began working in the packaging industry. While raising five children, he and La Verne started their own company, in their home in 1967. In 1985, he built the building where All-Pack-Co., Inc. continues to operate as a family business. Ed loved his family and being a true outdoorsman, he often took them camping, boating, fishing, hunting, and golfing. He shared a passion for traveling across the U.S. and seeing the world with his beloved wife. Ed also enjoyed attending his many grandchildren's football, baseball, soccer, hockey games, dance recitals, and other events. He supported his community in the Covina Rotary where he served as president and started the annual Fun Run. Ed was instrumental in the building of the Pony League Baseball field at Hollenbeck Park. He served his Church in the Knights of Columbus for 57 years. He also served his country as a sergeant in the Illinois State National Guard. Ed is survived by daughters: Kitty Wicks (Rob), Terry Gleason (Craig), Mickey Kissell, and sons: Bill (Cheri) Kissell and Ed (Kari) Kissell, along with 15 grandchildren and 3 great-granddaughters, his sister Ruth Honerkamp of Arizona, and brother, Morton Kissell of Florida. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved this wonderful man. A funeral Mass will be held on April 27, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located at 344 W Workman Ave Covina with a reception immediately following at ALL-PACK-CO., 718 Arrow Grand Circle, Covina. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Covina Rotary Fun Run which benefits teacher grants in COUSD and CVUSD and other community projects. Published in San Gabriel Valley Tribune on Apr. 20, 2013 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/redlandsdailyfacts/obituary.aspx?n...