Edward M. Lainhart, 85, of Hendersonville, NC, and former Marquette resident, entered eternal life Saturday morning, June 4, 2005, at Universal Health Care Center in Fletcher, NC.

Born April 13, 1920 in Halethorpe, Maryland, a son of Owen R. and Mary Elizabeth (Herr) Lainhart, Ed was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He entered military service in 1942 and served with the US Army. On June 26, 1943 he married Dorothy Fezatte at Fort Brady, Michigan, and the couple established their home at the many places of duty where Ed served. Ed retired from military service in 1965 with the rank of Master Sergeant, as a veteran of World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Era. Ed was employed at Marinette Marine from 1965-1966 prior to the couple moving to Marquette. He was employed by Northern Michigan University in their Security Department for four years. He then transferred to the Maintenance Department where he worked another sixteen years before retiring from NMU in 1985. Ed’s wife, Dorothy, preceded him in death in 1986 and he remained in Marquette four more years before meeting and marrying Bertha Benton on December 28, 1989. The couple moved to Bertha’s home in Hendersonville, North Carolina, spending the winter months in Gainesville, Florida. In his leisure Ed enjoyed building model airplanes, bowling, woodworking, gardening, and making jellies and jams. While residing in Marquette, he was a very active member of St. Christopher Catholic Church and Men’s Club, the Richard Jopling Post #44 of the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include:

His wife, Bertha Lainhart of Hendersonville, NC

Daughter, Mary Beth (Gary) Bell of Marquette; a son, Michael (Judy) Lainhart of Encino, CA; a step-daughter, Sheri B. Kirk of Oviedo, FL; two step-sons, Gary A. (Patricia) Benton of Campobello, SC and Gregory M. (Barbara) Benton of Riverview, FL

His grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Michael (Suzanne) Bell, Jeremy (Nichole) Bell, Bill (Joanne) Lainhart, Paul (Nicole) Lainhart, Hollie Marshal, Michelle Quinton, and Kari Tracy; and several great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and first wife, Dorothy, Ed was preceded in death by two sons, Patrick Lainhart in 1984, and Thomas Lainhart in 1999; and sisters, Leoyla, Dorothy, and Elizabeth.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Christopher Catholic Church, Marquette, on Saturday, June 11, at 11:00 am with Rev. Lawrence Gauthier as celebrant. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church fellowship hall. Graveside services will be held at the Spalding Township Cemetery Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm.