Edward D. Detweiler

Edward C. Detweiler, 65, of Chapman, died Friday, January 25 at his home near Chapman. Services will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Chapman Public School Gymnasium with Rev. Scott Friesen officiating. Burial will be at the Chapman Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday evening from 4 to 8 pm at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to Chapman Public Schools or Northwest High School. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family. Ed was born on December 14, 1947 at Allentown, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles Dell and Dorothy Kemmerling. He grew up in Allentown and was adopted in the 6th grade and raised by Marietta and Stan Detweiler. He graduated from Northwest High School in Allentown. He served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He graduated from College in LeMars, Iowa before moving to the Grand Island area where he began working for the Chapman Public Schools. He taught, coached basketball, and was also principal at Chapman for nearly 30 years. He was also Assistant Principal at Northwest High School in Grand Island for 10 years before retiring in 2009. He married Dixie Rice in November of 1994 at Grand Island. The couple lived outside of Chapman where Ed loved caring for his property. He also enjoyed golfing with friends and wood working. He attended Berean Bible Church in Grand Island, and was a member of the Platt Deutsch. Mr 'D', as known to his students, Ed cared deeply for each student trusted to his care. On many occasions students contacted Ed as adults to express their gratitude to him for his tough love. Ed's genuine love for his students touched many lives and influenced them to make correct choices. Ed believed in people, always looking for the good in them. Ed was able to relate and communicate to people because he valued folks for who they were, not their status in life. This attribute provided Ed with many life-long friends. Ed will be greatly missed by family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Dixie Detweiler of Chapman, two daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah Detweiler and her husband, Stefan Hall of Green Bay, Wisconsin and Emily and Derek Herlofsky of Minneapolis, MN, a granddaughter, Beau Brinkley Herlofsky, his birth mother, Dorothy, one sister, Judy Fenstermacher of Allentown, PA, brother Tommy Leitgeb of Allentown, PA, adopted sister Kathy Umphress of Grand Island, as well as several half sisters and brothers. He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents.