Edward Zurcher Obituary, Death – I would like to express my gratitude to my friends and family for the comforting words, thoughtful reflections, and prayers that you have offered for my daughters and me following the passing of my husband, Ed. Oh, how I had a crush on that man! Over the course of a year and a half, he fought a difficult and private battle against a very rare form of cancer. We think about him all the time.
The girls and I have written an obituary for Ed, which can be found below. It is about the most wonderful husband and father. We also included details regarding the Celebration of Life service that will be held for Ed on February 4th.
Edward Martin Zurcher, 58 years old, a resident of Basin City, Washington, lost his valiant battle with cancer on January 11, 2023. He had fought the disease for a long time.
On October 11, 1964, Ed’s parents, Hans Rudy and Heidi Zurcher brought him into the world in Upland, California. His family made the move up to Enumclaw, Washington, in 1968, and he spent his childhood years on the dairy farm that his family owned there, along with his two brothers, Ted and Jim, and his sister, Julie. When Ed was a kid, he loved helping out on the farm his family-owned, participating in 4-H and FFA, and playing sports like soccer and wrestling. In 1983, he received his diploma from Enumclaw High School. After that, he received his education in the Dairy Herdsmanship program at Utah State University.
Following the completion of his education, he went to Switzerland to work on a dairy farm owned by the Pfister family. After returning from his travels, he joined his father in the family business, Zurcher Dairy, located in Enumclaw, Washington. Ed never stopped looking into the future and speculating about what it might bring. Ed and his father made the decision to relocate the family dairy farm from Enumclaw to Basin City in Washington state in the year 1997. While he was there, Ed bought the farm from his parents and increased the size of the dairy herd. He also began growing his own crops and running a steer operation.
Ed’s enthusiasm lay in all aspects of dairy farming. He was pleased with what he and his family had accomplished together. He never let his lack of fear prevent him from assuming positions of authority within the dairy industry. Ed had a deep commitment to assisting dairy farmers and was a powerful advocate for the industry. He demonstrated this commitment through his participation in the Agricultural Forestry program as well as his service at the Washington State Dairy Federation.
Being a devoted husband and father was another role that Ed considered to be very important in his life. In 1989, he met the woman who would become the love of his life, Heather Harris, who graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1986. They wed in 1993. Olivia, Alena, and Abigail were the names of their three daughters. He was devoted to his daughters and never missed an opportunity to show his support for them by attending their various competitions, recitals, and fairs and giving them his signature “princess wave.”
His mother, Heidi; his wife, Heather; his daughters Olivia (Colin), Alena, and Abigail; and his siblings, Ted, Julie, and Jim, are among those who will miss him after his passing. His father, Rudy, passed away before him and is buried next to him.
Ed will be remembered for his infectious laugh, his sense of humor, his wit, his razor-sharp memory, his passion for agriculture, his dedication to community service, and for being a friend to a large number of people. On February 4, 2023, at one o’clock in the afternoon, a gathering to honor his life will take place at the Red Lion Hotel in Pasco, Washington. Everyone in the family and all of their friends are more than welcome to come. As a gesture of condolence and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Eastern Washington Family Farmers.