Edgar Albert Wright, Jr.

Edgar Albert Wright, Jr., a life-long resident of Fond du Lac, died Sunday, January 16, 2011, at age 95. He was born on July 16, 1915, in Fond du Lac, the son of Edgar Albert and Marion Romig Wright. His sister, Helen Marion, was eight years older.Ed graduated from Fond du Lac High School and attended Lawrence College in Appleton for two years before returning to Fond du Lac in 1935 to help his father and uncle at Wright Brothers Paper Box Company, the firm they had founded. Except for his Army service in 1945-1946, he worked at Wright Brothers until his retirement in 1975. In 1947, after the war, he and his new business partner, Frank Erdman, took over ownership of the company and greatly expanded it, moving the firm from its old location on Arndt Street to the present building on Morris Street in 1965 and also adding a factory in Miami.When he was a teenager, Ed joined a group of friends who gathered at each other's houses to dance to recordings of swing music. At these dances, he met Marie Freund, a high school classmate whom he married on July 17, 1940. They had two daughters, Paula and Joanne, and in 1949, built a house on Melrose Boulevard where Ed lived for more than 50 years.Ed was a world traveler, who made his first trip abroad when he was only 23, embarking on a solo voyage by ship through the Panama Canal and around South America in 1939 at the beginning of World War II. He was especially fond of sea voyages and traveling on freighters. By the time he took his last journey at age 88, he had been around the world three times and had visited 51 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. He attended Princess Margaret's wedding in London, photographed giraffes in Kenya, visited temples in Bali and rode elephants in Thailand. From the Sahara to the Swiss Alps, the jungles of Brazil to the Arctic tundra of Canada, he wanted to see it all – and he did.When asked why he traveled, Ed said that geography was his favorite school subject; he found the names of foreign cities fascinating and always wanted to see for himself what these places looked like. Until her illness in the '70's and death in 1974, Ed traveled with his wife Marie, who often planned their trips. In 1976 he married Lorraine Smith and she became another enthusiastic travel partner. When he wasn't traveling abroad, Ed enjoyed spending time in the North Woods – at Gunflint Lodge in Minnesota and also at his cabin on Black Oak Lake in northern Wisconsin. He took many fishing trips and caught Pacific salmon off Vancouver, a sailfish in Florida and lake trout and northern pike in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada.A prolific amateur artist whose work was exhibited in local shows, Ed often painted subjects from his travels – a tea picker from Sri Lanka, a temple dancer from Bangkok, snake charmers from India, the Swiss mountains – as well as his much-loved cabin and the woods and lakes surrounding it. For 17 years Ed worked as a volunteer in the physical therapy department at St. Agnes Hospital. He also volunteered at Brooke Industries and Very Special Arts Wisconsin, helping with art classes and the annual VSA arts festival.His family and many friends will miss his generosity, unfailing caring and quiet dignity.Ed is survived by his wife Lorraine, his daughters Paula and her husband Cy DeCosse of Minneapolis and Joanne and her husband Bob Lenburg of Madison; three grandchildren, Claire Taylor (Jim Reisert) of Washington, DC, Amy Lenburg (Matt Burress) of Minneapolis, and Matt Lenburg of Madison; four great-grandchildren, Cate and Luke, Anne and Lara; and a number of nieces and nephews.Preceding him in death were his parents, his first wife Marie, and his sister Helen Kummerow.Ed contributed generously to many community organizations, including Pilgrim United Church of Christ, of which he was a long-time member, the Fond du Lac Foundation and the Salvation Army. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to any of these organizations.The family wishes to thank the staff at Woodlands for the care and comfort they provided to Ed, as well as the hospice staff, volunteers and friends who offered prayers and support. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 535 Stow Street, Fond du Lac, with Rev. Ted Drewsen officiating. A private burial will precede the service.The family will greet friends and relatives on Saturday at church from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service.

Edgar Albert Wright, Jr.

July 16, 1915 - January 16, 2011