Edwin Eisele, 51, of Olathe, KS, passed away on Sunday, July 30th in his home surrounded by family. He was born September 15, 1971 in Ottawa, KS, to Karl and Twilla Eisele and his childhood on the farm shaped his skills and passions.
He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1990, attended Bartlesville Wesleyan College for two years, and went on to earn his B.S. and M.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University where he was also an active member of FarmHouse fraternity. It was here that he met Casee and they married in Moundridge, KS on December 27, 1996.
After graduation he worked for John Deere where his expertise in transmissions and hydraulics were put to use on numerous tractor programs. He was issued a patent, developed new technologies, adventured in Europe during a three year assignment in Mannheim, Germany, and made many life-long friends along the way.
Edwin and Casee were blessed with three sons. Spenser, Lance, and Trent who brought joy, excitement, and perpetual chaos into Edwin's world. The family enjoyed many exploits together and Edwin passed along his special kind of humor and love of K-State sports to his boys. They spent many happy years in Waterloo, IA sandwiching the three years in Mannheim, Germany, and the past decade in Olathe, KS where Edwin enjoyed being close to his family and the family farm.
From an early age, Edwin had a love of Christ. He grew up attending Cherry Street Wesleyan Church and Kansas City Youth for Christ events, found a second home at the faith-based FarmHouse fraternity, and served the church families at Cedarloo Church of Christ, Mannheim Gemeinde Christi, Hickman Mills Church of Christ, and 151st Street Church of Christ. Often his financial skills were tapped, and he humbly served as deacon.
The last five years of his life, Edwin battled terminal brain cancer. But he did not make those years about the cancer, as he remained as active as he could in the things he was passionate about: farming, tractor pulling, K-State sports, and a bit of fishing. But most of all, his life was a shining beacon for the faith he had that God would guide his path, the hope that Christ's sacrifice had gifted him, and the strength of the Spirit walking beside him every day. Edwin was not afraid.
Edwin is survived by his wife Casee, their three sons Spenser, Lance, and Trent, his parents Karl and Twilla, his brothers Russell (Stacey) and Loren (Yami), and a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. We will all miss his mischievous smile, his kind and generous heart, and his loving embrace.
A visitation will be held on Friday, August 11th 4:00-7:00 pm, and funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 12th at 11:00 am, both at the 151st Street Church of Christ at 13875 151st St., Olathe, KS 66062. The family will also greet friends after the service in the fellowship hall.
A graveside service will follow at 2:30pm at Hesper Friends Church cemetery, 2355 N 1100 Rd., Eudora, KS 66205.
The family recommends Turner Flowers in Ottawa, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support two of Edwin's passions; Bible translation and Kansas State University.
Contributions can be made in memory of Edwin to the Wycliffe Bible Translators Ayta project in the Philippines through online giving. Go to
https://www.wycliffe.org/projects/give-to-a-wycliffe-project then indicate code M803281 in the project box and in memory of Edwin Eisele.
A memorial for Edwin L. Eisele has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave, Suite 200, Manhattan, KS, 66502. Please indicate fund M47449. To make a gift online, go to
www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorialsTo leave a message of condolence for Edwin's family or to share a special memory of him, please visit the guestbook below.