Uncle Eddie, Grandpa, Dad, Edward – Eddie Carenbauer
My mom, Joan Greene Kuglen, recently contacted me and said, “You should blog about your Uncle Eddie! He just had his 92nd birthday in Wheeling last January.” I thought it was a great idea.
My most vivid memory of my Uncle Eddie Carenbauer is being in the backseat of a car when I was five years old and driving from the train station in Pittsburgh to Wheeling at Easter time with Mom and my younger brother. It was very late and very dark, I felt very small and we seemed to be driving very fast. Then Mom said, “Uncle Eddie was a pilot in World War II,” and I looked up at the back of his head and suddenly I felt like we were flying. I always thought that was pretty cool.
Here is what Mom wrote:
My dear brother-in-law Eddie Carenbauer, also known as Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Eddie, and as my sister Mary Eleanore always called him, Edward, celebrated his 92nd year of life in January. Eddie and Mary Eleanore were married when I was just 10 years old, so I have known this fantastic man for 70 years. Our lives were intertwined for many years. I remember driving to Dyersburg Tennessee with Mary Eleanore and baby Christine to spend time with Eddie, who was in training to become a pilot during WW11 in the 1940s. I was along to baby sit Christine and after that I spent many years babysitting the Carenbauer children. Eddie was always helped us out in crisis, such as bringing Mother to Chicago for my college graduation when Daddy was too sick to come. I was always a frequent visitor to their home and remember their first home that was close to the Mount, then America Avenue, Birch Avenue and Carmel Road. Oh and yes their home in Florida – it was always a treat to visit them there. Eddie was integral part of my family – and still is.
Wow! 92 years being the quintessential Wheeling resident. He is the remaining member of the original Carenbauer family that lived on Lynnwood Avenue, Wheeling. He has a remarkable memory, calling up details long forgotten by most of us. He has spent his whole life nourishing his friendship with childhood friends, being an involved Father, contributing to his community, and building a business. His son Carl now runs the business, but Eddie keeps his hand in going to the office most days of the week. He and Mary Eleanore had five wonderful children – Christine, George, Ellen, Michael, and Carl. And he now has many beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren who love him as much as he loves them. In addition to being a lifelong resident of Wheeling, he is also a cosmopolitan traveler; the last two summers he traveled with family in France and Germany, loving being with his kids and experiencing the culture of Europe.
He has been an amazing friend to me and I celebrate his life even though I don’t get to see him very often. If you don’t know him you are missing a great person. Congratulations on your birthday Eddie. You are certainly loved.
Joanie
Erich Hamm, Eddie’s grandson, sent me this fantastic photo of young Edward playing baseball on Lynnwood Avenue.
Eddie playing baseball
Here is link to Gunther Hamm’s photo album (courtesy of Erich), which has some pictures of Uncle Eddie with lots of Carenbauers at Christmas ’09.
