Birth date: Oct 14, 1929 Death date: Jun 6, 2004
Surrounded by the presence and love of his family, Edwin H. Hustedde entered his eternal life in God early Sunday morning, June 6th. He was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Breese, IL, the son of the late Edwin G. & Cecilia (Sherman) Husted Read Obituary
Father ED was one of the few people who really make a difference in your life and who will rememered by all
Jesus asks no more of men than that they should follow in His footsteps. What a wonderful vision he fulfilled while serving Christ. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and community. We pray that his legacy is passed on.
Fr. Ed has always been there for our family when it mattered most. Family Weddings, Babtisms, and even the recent death of my Grandma. He has been a great friend and tremendous support to my dad and the rest of our family. We will all miss him so much.
To me Fr Ed WAS Gibault. I really cannot imagine that Gibault would be the special place it was when I was there - nor what it is today without his efforts and vision. I hope and pray that Gibault will always continue his vision of education in its future. He will be greatly missed.
It was a privilege and an honor to share brief times with such an inspirational man. It's unfortunate men of his character are so rare. We learned a lot from him, in school and in life. His influence has long lasting roots in the Southern Illinois Catholic community.
There is not a place within miles which can hold all the people he influenced. Its a tribute to a great man to see all those who were privileged to know him however briefly. May God bless him as he reaps his eternal rewards. He is a pillar and model who will be missed. Glad to be able to call him a hero.
Michael Crook
Fr Ed came to St Mary's in Valmeyer
in 1993 just before the Great Flood.He was our inspiration and hope to rebuild in the new town.
Just last April,he walked with us to bless nine more homes.We had to
run to keep up with him.I remember
his sermons;they mostly about love
for each other and taking care of each other! He will be sorely missed.
Father Ed was a true visionary.
He held things in his heart,vision, and life plans which
most people would say were "impossible".....
and yet he knew and lived his life knowing that "anything is possible with God".
MY Dad and him are gardening in heaven now, but I can't help but believe that they still have visions, dreams, and plans for
the lives which they have touched.
I am grateful to have known such a great man. I will miss his courage, inspiration,and wisdom.
Fr Ed strongly instilled the concept to dream of what is possible is good, but then to go for it and stick to it, is better. I moved to Australia in 1975 but we always kept in touch. My family home was near Gibault and every trip home I would cross the field at night and walk down to Gibault to see his lone car sitting in the drive and a light burning endlessly in his office. I would knock seeing if he had time for a chat. He would listen intently and always treated one with respect and genuine interest. As the animal rights issue ethically grabbed me more and more I had many unresolved arguments with him, eg. pigs had feelings, rights and we had responsibilities not to eat them. He baulked at these thoughts so much, but as the years passed he came to understand more where I was coming from, even if he didn't totally agree. And I felt so supported when he included news of my arrests/imprisonments over rescuing battery hens in the gibault alumni news. As most people, especially in rural areas would consider this work ridiculous and unimportant.
The great legacy Father Ed gave to us all was his example of a life lived with a solid inner core of integrity, compassion and honesty. He didn't need books to teach us how to live a good life. Now all we have to do is follow his example. Thank you Father Hustedde.
Two Christmases ago I was working as a "telemarketer" for the Republic-Times during their holiday sales. I had a list of phone numbers to call that bore no names. One night, Fr. Ed happened to be one of the numbers on my list. I didn't know this until after he agreed to a one year renewal. I told him who I was and he spent a good 10-15 minutes on the phone with me that night while I was at work after renewing his paper just to see how I was doing. He could always put a face with a name no matter who you were and he always cared and he always had a smile for you. God has gained one heck of a gardener for His paradise. I just hope the landscaping in Heaven is as beautiful as the Gibault grounds were when Fr. Ed tended to them.
Father Ed enriched my life since he also taught me to have an "I will" attitude toward my life. In the mid-1960s when so many new things were confronting me, he helped me learn to broaden my view and question things - even though I wasn't his best Latin I & II student. I'll never be able to repay him for his inspiration. God definitely blessed me for having known Father Ed.
