Ed Ringbauer, 96, of Forest Park, died May 20. He was the son of the late Johanna and John, and brother of the late John. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
His great niece, Johnanna Grosse, remembered: “He was always helpful and the officers in his company liked him so much that they wanted to keep him around. He never got shipped out to fight in the war. When he finished his time in the army, the officers wanted him to stay and work for them, but he was still a very young man and wanted to go home to ‘Ma.'”
Ed returned to Forest Park and worked as a maintenance man in an apartment building on Des Plaines Avenue.
“I once asked Ed if he had any advice for me. His advice was simple: ‘Smile and stay away from boys,'” Johnanna Grosse said. “People like Ed remind us that the key to happiness in life is simple. Be kind and helpful and smile. I am truly honored to have known him,” she added.
Visitation and service were held May 24 at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home. Interment took place at Forest Home Cemetery.
