Edward Earl von Emster

Edward Earl von Emster, 81, of Vallejo, California, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025, at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo. Born in Petaluma, he grew up in San Francisco, raised his family in Redwood City, and retired to Vallejo where he and his wife, Susan, remained until his passing, having made a lasting impact on his Vallejo community. Edward is survived by his devoted wife, Susan Rinehart von Emster, whom he married in 1995 - a relationship that defined the latter half of his life, allowing him to thrive as both a husband and a friend. His children, Edward von Emster (Shontel), Gregory von Emster Drake, and Colleen von Emster, from his prior marriage to Barbara Drake, were raised with love and care. He delighted in the successes of his children and was always eager to hear about their latest adventures. He is also survived by his four cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth, Thomas, Richard, and Elena; his twin brother, Ernest von Emster, and Ernest’s wife, Bernie; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Louise McGuinness (Michael, deceased), and his older brother, Konrad von Emster, whose wife, Marilyn, survives him. Growing up, he attended St. Thomas the Apostle grammar school in San Francisco and then attended nearby George Washington High School where he was an All-City Champion swimmer. One of his favorite childhood memories was the summers he spent in Lompico with his family. After graduating high school, Edward proudly volunteered to join the U.S. Army and served honorably for three years, two of which included being stationed in his ancestral Germany. His subsequent education led him to earn an associate degree in Electronic Engineering from City College of San Francisco and then a bachelor’s in Business from Notre Dame de Namur. Edward dedicated his entire professional career to working at Hewlett-Packard (and later at its spin-off, Agilent) as both a Manufacturing Manager and Quality Manager. After retirement, Edward and Susan embraced adventure by selling their home and spending two years traveling throughout the United States towing an RV. They visited family, friends, and destinations in every corner of the country, cherishing the time and memories together, frequently looking at each other with astonishment saying, “We’re actually doing this.” Just a few of their myriad adventures included watching a night launch of the Space shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida from 5 miles away, making a spontaneous, unplanned detour to take in Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota that happened to coincide with the arrival of 500,000 motorcyclists for the Annual Sturgis Rally, as well as the time they had to call AAA to pull their truck and massive fifth-wheel RV out of the mud after a horrific rainstorm. (Thankfully, the tow truck managed the job!). A lifelong sports fan, Edward was a devoted fan and close follower of both the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco 49ers. As a father, he passed on his love for humor, quick wit, mischievous playfulness, board games, cards, reading, and a competitive spirit to his children. His broad smile—often the first thing people noticed—made everyone feel welcome and was a testament to his warm and generous nature. Another joy and constant throughout his life was his cherished friendships, which dated back to his grammar school days and continued until his final days.. Jim, Dirk, Wally, Bob, Armand (dec.), Jack, Tom, John, Dan, and brother Ernie, all got together annually for their guy’s weekend as well as sharing other adventures and experiences throughout his years. Edward was raised in the Catholic Church and continued practicing throughout his youth into adulthood, participating and serving in his local parish. It laid a foundation for him, but during midlife, struggles in various aspects of his life—work, health, and relationships—converged, creating a perfect storm. This experience led him on a search, leading him to personal faith and surrender to Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Edward would always attribute the subsequent changes in him to his relationship with Jesus. And following this, Ed and Susan learned together how to love from Jesus, beginning in their marriage. Even as he faced Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses, Edward met every challenge with resolve and determination, deeply rooted in his Christian faith. By his side, Susan tirelessly and selflessly cared for him in every way during his final years. Her love and dedication were deeply appreciated by Ed, as they were by all who bore witness to it, and they will always remain an incredible inspiration to those who knew them—a resolve Susan also attributed to her Christian faith. An active member of New Harbor Community Church in Benicia, Ed's faith sustained him and inspired many. A memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on March 1, 2025, at New Harbor Community Church. All are welcome to join in honoring Edward’s full and fulfilling life. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations to either an Edward von Emster Memorial Fund at New Harbor Community Church benefitting the unhoused community or a charity of your choice. https://newharbor.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/226/responses/new Edward’s legacy of love, adventure, humor, and unwavering faith will continue to inspire all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.

Edward Earl von Emster

April 25, 1943 - February 11, 2025