Obituary of Oline M. Edge

Oline M. Edge, 68, of Benton Harbor, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph on Sunday, October 3, 2010. Oline was born on March 16, 1942 to the late Arthur D. and Nora (Luvaas) Wagner in Benton Harbor. She was one of four children growing up in the Wagner household. After graduating in 1960, from Benton Harbor High School, Oline went to work for Totzke Real Estate. In the late 1960's she went to work for the Benton Harbor Public School System. On May 24, 1980 Oline wed the love of her life, Bill Edge at a ceremony in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1998 Oline retired from the public schools, she couldn't sit idle so she spent much of her time studying genealogy, taking lots of photographs, going to garage sales, collecting cookbooks, gadgets and at times stray animals. She was a big advocate of Animal Aid Pet Rescue and was always looking after God's little critters. In her retirement Oline also worked part time merchandising magazine displays for local grocery stores and Walgreens. She was known by many as the "Magazine Lady". Oline was a member of the Berrien County Genealogical Society, Berrien County Historical Association, North Berrien Historical Association, NHOH (Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag), Solorlag of America, Germans/Russia Southwest Michigan Chapter and a charter member of a local Sons of Norway and has maintained her membership since 1972. Uff Da! She was so proud of her Norwegian heritage. She was also a member of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) where she received an award in 2009 for her Distinguished Service on the state level and the MARSP-Berrien County Chapter where she also received the Dedicated Service Award in 2006. Oline was a strong willed individual who was always about having fun. She was always playing practical jokes and enjoyed a good laugh. She was always taking pictures and traveling with her husband. Together they traveled all over the country visiting friends and family. Please honor Oline's memory with a promise to live better for having known her, do it with a kind deed or word to someone, give the gift of fun and laughter, wear a little sparkle and care for each other and all God's creatures. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Charles Wagner and in-laws Lyle and Rose Edge. Oline is survived by her husband Bill Edge, children Christopher Lester of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Dawn (Mark) Knapp of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, step-children Kathi Edge of Union Grove, Alabama, Karyn (Mark) Stoneberg of Columbia, South Carolina, John (Laurie) Edge of Anchorage, Alaska and Jennifer Babashka of Durand, Illinois, grandchildren Alec Lenz and Mandy Bingham, both of St. Joseph, Michigan, Mitchell and Max Olsen, both of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Serena and Noah Stoneberg of Columbia, South Carolina, Catie and Ellie Edge, both of Anchorage, Alaska and Colton and Taylor Babashka, both of Durand, Illinois, siblings Margaret Schmieding of St. Joseph, Michigan and Robert (Vicky) Wagner of St. Joseph, Michigan, sister-in-law Pat (Harold) Hedge of Morris, Illinois, aunts Esther Bejerke of Lily, South Dakota and Lauretta Luvaas of Clark, South Dakota, niece Mary Alice and nephew Arthur "A.J.", cousins in Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and South Dakota and a "birthday lunch group" of special friends. Oline has been cremated and her family will be holding a memorial service, at a later date, in her memory at Peace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph where she has been a member for over four years. Memorial donations may be made to one of the following charities that helped Oline during her life or that she took great pride in being a part of; Lakeland Hospice, Peace Lutheran Church - Expansion Fund or Animal Aid Pet Rescue.