*On Nov. 26, 2014, Virgil C. Edson, 91, Barron, Wis., died peacefully.

Virgil was born April 20, 1923, to Clarence and Jessie Hutchison Edson at Barron. He graduated from Barron High School in 1941, served in WWII from 1943-1946, and then graduated from St. Olaf College in 1947 with an economics and science major.

Virgil was an example of compassionate self-sacrifice. His life motto was “Every individual in the community has a little civic or social rent to pay.” This, he said, makes life meaningful for everyone. Service was so important to him that he received the Outstanding Citizen of Barron Award in 1968.

Where he first started working at the Boy Scouts of America, he became a lifelong scoutmaster and later received the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service in 1968. He also led as a lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Club District 21 – with perfect attendance for 50 years.

Equally active in church as in the community, Virgil was as a lifelong member and president for multiple committees at First Lutheran Church in Barron. He would humbly say he did all of this with the cooperation of many, without mention of other recognitions and leadership activity at the V.F.W, Barron Community Center, and American Cancer Society.

On April 12, 1952, Virgil married Harriet Anderson. The fall of that year, he went into the petroleum business with his dad and brothers, Jack and Joel. They then entered the appliance and TV business in mid-1960.

Later that decade, Jack and Virgil purchased Olson Department Store in Barron and opened stores across Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. They named them “Edson’s Department Store.”

After his wife Harriet died in 1991, he married Paula Hong on Feb. 12, 1993.

Virgil enjoyed traveling, hunting, waterskiing, golf, tennis, swimming, cross country skiing, and gardening. His family was important to him, and he cherished their time together. He was exceptionally giving and truly gregarious, making everyone feel special.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Paula Hong, are a brother, Joel Edson ’57; a sister-in-law, June Edson; children, Chuck and wife Paula Edson, and Mark and wife Diane Edson; grandchildren, Lindsey, Eric, Carly, and Erin Edson; stepchildren, Lee and wife Rita Johnson, and Peter and wife Heidi Olson; granddaughter, Haley; and many loving relatives.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Harriet; sisters, Geraldine Edson Ellefson ’46 and Marjorie; and a brother, Jack.