World War II veteran worked in food business
Published in the March 15, 2017 edition
LYNNFIELD — Edward Paul Purtz, 92, of Lynnfield, passed away while surrounded by family on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:45 a.m. at Ledgewood Hospital in Beverly.
He lived his life with deep resilience, strong will, playfulness, and good humor. He was the husband of Gail (Plaisted) Purtz for 35 years. Edward was predeceased by his late wife, Eulla (Wilkins) Purtz. Edward was the loving father of Edward Purtz Jr. and his wife Julie of Salem; Harvey Purtz and his wife Leslie of Fresno California; Susan Bourassa and her husband Reginald of Haverhill; and Margery Moore of Pelham, New Hampshire. Edward was the loving grandfather of Daniel and his wife, Maggie Bourassa; Natasha and her husband, Joseph Abasciano; Eric and his wife Rebecca Purtz; Desiree and her husband, Chris Bailey; Nathan Purtz; Jacob Purtz; Frederic Purtz; Ricky Staples; Justin Staples; Emma Swift; Sara Swift; Justin Foley; and Cameron Foley. Edward Purtz is predeceased by his grandson, Christopher Purtz. He also was the proud great-grandfather of seven (and soon to be eight) great-grandchildren including Isabella and Anthony Abasciano; Maeve and Finnegan Bourassa; and Nolan, Caleb and Hayden Purtz.
Edward’s journey began in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on February 12, 1925, and continued in New York City, where he graduated from high school. Immediately after graduating, Edward joined the U.S. Army Air Corps to serve in World War II. At age 18, on April 27, 1943, he entered into active service and served in the war as a tail gunner in B-26 planes in the 320th bomb group. While serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Edward was in multiple campaigns in North Africa and Europe. He arrived in Casablanca, Morocco in February 1944; spent time in Constantine, Algeria; and joined the 443rd Squadron in Sardinia in March 1944. Edward flew in 68 combat missions during World War II. In March 1945, he left for the United States, and was honorably discharged in September 1945.
For the next 54 years, Edward worked in the food business for Swift & Co., M. M. Mades, Kayem Foods and Lollipop Tree. From 1945-1969, Edward spent over 25 years with Swift and Co., progressively assuming increased responsibilities in sales; sales management; product manager at the corporate level; marketing manager at corporate level for the U.S. and Canada; production manager; plant superintendent; plant manager; and general manager of the New England area. During much of this time, Edward spent 23 years moving 10 times to various parts of the country on management assignments with his family.
Eventually, Edward settled in the Boston area. Edward spent another 18 years working for Kayem Foods. While at Kayem, Edward was responsible for and part of the team that grew the company’s business from $1.5 million to $100 million in annual sales, and helped introduce many new products during that time. Edward started at Kayem with a small team of 30 people, and by 1991, business had grown to three plants and over 400 people. Edward retired in 1991 as Kayem’s vice president of operations and manufacturing. Just two weeks after retiring, Edward became involved in a food service company and a startup bread mix operation at Lollipop Tree. This twice a week job very quickly turned into a six day, 24-hour operation. In the late 1990’s, Edward retired for a second time, but his contributions to the food industry would not end there.
In the late 1990’s, one of Edward’s colleagues gave his name to a volunteer organization called ACDI/VOCA, an economic development organization, funded by USAID, the Department of Agriculture, and private groups that sends unpaid volunteers that have been owners or officers in companies engaged in various segments of the food industry overseas to 146 countries. People come from farming, dairy, grain, cattle, hog, poultry, and meat processing worked on privatizing and restructuring the various enterprises along the American model of business. From 1997-1999, Edward traveled as a ACDI/VOCA volunteer for three plus weeks at a time on multiple visits to Albania, Bulgaria, Brazil and Ukraine, where he drew on his career in the food industry to introduce new products; methods of production; safe food handling; and organization. In Edward’s own words, “All the above free of charge – but what a sense of having some worth after retiring. What a satisfaction of utilizing 50 plus years of experience and having people find it of some value.” Many of the people that Edward visited overseas, including those from Albania, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, visited him in in Boston, and he welcomed them into his home in Lynnfield.
“It was great to hear these people tell me that we had some part in helping to improve their overall business,” said Edward. “Made me proud to have been part of the food industry for 54 years, as I have been proud to be a small contributor for the benefit of America.”
In addition to his adventures around the world, Edward was a very active member of the Lynnfield community, especially at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served on the vestry as senior warden for many years. Edward was active in fundraising for the new addition built onto the church in the early 1990’s. Most of all, Edward enjoyed cooking at church dinners over the years, particularly at fair suppers and St. Patrick’s Day dinners of corned beef and cabbage. Edward served for many years on the boards of the Lynnfield Senior Center as well as Greater Lynn Senior Services. Edward was very committed to seniors in the community and established the exercise room at the Lynnfield Senior Center, where he also served as a volunteer.
Faith, family, and food were important themes throughout Edward’s life. He will be missed by many loved ones, remembered for his many important contributions, including his famous home-cooked dinners. He will never be forgotten.
Services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 11 and burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Friends of Lynnfield Senior Center, 525 Salem St. Lynnfield MA 01940 or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 127 Summer St. Lynnfield MA 01940. For guestbook, www.mcdonaldfs.com.
