Edward A. Owczarek, 79, of Big Rapids, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. He was born on December 13, 1945, in Diepholz, Germany to Katarzina Danczyszn and Michal Kowalewicz. He lived in Germany with his mom until age 11, when they immigrated to America and settled in Hammond Indiana. Ed attended St. Casimir Middle School and Hammond Technical High School. During summers and breaks from school, Ed worked in the Steel Mills in Gary, Indiana. He attended Purdue University where he met and fell in love with Linda Renck. Ed and Linda were married on December 21, 1968. Shortly after that, Ed joined the military, and was stationed in places such as Key West, Florida, Texas, and Korea. After the military, Ed and Linda settled down in Oak Park, Michigan where he started working for Chrysler and they were blessed with two daughters, Michelle and Traci. Soon after, they moved to Troy, Michigan where they lived for 27 years. During this time, Ed loved to golf, hang out with his Chrysler work buddies, and their families camping several times a year, and coach his daughters in soccer. The family loved to travel (especially by car) to see America during the summers, with favorite trips to California including stops at many National Parks, camping in Disney World at Fort Wilderness, flying to Hawaii for a two-week visit with a cruise to multiple islands, and various places in between. After retiring from Chrysler, Ed and Linda moved up to the Big Rapids area. Here, Eds love of soccer continued as he had the opportunity to coach four of his grandkids and countless other children. Coach Ed will always be remembered as running around the soccer field with the 30 some little kids each season, doing crab walks and fun games to foster the love of soccer. He soon became a proud hockey grandpa as all five of his grandchildren have played or continue to play hockey. Ed was preceded in death by his mother Katarzina Owczarek. He is survived by his wife Linda (Renck) of 55 years, his daughters Michelle (Ron) Welch and Traci (Nathan) Goldberg, grandchildren Nathan Welch, Luke Welch, Wyatt Welch, Raquel Welch, and Brendan Goldberg, sister Marie (Earl) Bare and their four children. Memorial Services will be conducted on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Big Rapids. Inurnment will be held at Gibson Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made according to the First United Methodist church, Big Rapids, Animal Rescue Coalition, or Corewell Health Hospice. Arrangements are in the care of Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home, Big Rapids. To share a condolence or leave a memory please visit www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com Memorial Service Tuesday, October 1, 2024 1:00 PM First United Methodist Church 304 Elm Street Big Rapids,MI 49307