Ed Muderlak

[Kevin McCormack]

It is my very sad occasion to inform the PGCA Membership of the death of my good friend Ed Muderlak. Ed passed away yesterday, Tues. 12/21, at 3pm at home in Durand IL after a long, difficult and courageous battle with cancer. Through his research, writings, and conversations, Ed did much to expand the base of knowledge connected with Parker Guns. True students of the marque owe much to him, and I am proud to have known him. May he rest in peace.

[Bruce Day]

A man with a great passion for Parkers, and a loss to the collecting community. Thank you for the post Kevin, and my condolences.

[Paul Ehlers]

So sorry to hear of this loss. The likes of Ed will never be replaced. He has done so much for the collecting community at large. I personally have learned much from his research & writings.

Ed,You will be missed!

[Greg Baehman]

A man with a great passion for Parkers, and a loss to the collecting community. Thank you for the post Kevin, and my condolences.

You've said it well, I'd like to echo your sentiments.

[John Dunkle]

I only met Ed once, and for that, know we lost a huge asset to the Parker Collecting community and knowledge-base. With my deepest sympathy and condolences to his surviving family and friends,

John

[Dave Suponski]

Kevin, Thank you for taking the time to post this sad news. I have been fortunate enough to have spent a little time in conversation with Ed. He was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge for all things Parker. The collecting community has suffered a great loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to Nancy and his family.

[Dean Romig]

Ed was certainly one of the Parker icons. As others have said, his vast knowledge which he was always eager to share with anyone who showed the least bit of interest in things Parker was encyclopedic. Thankfully we have his books and have copied and printed his communications with us. He hadn't finished his work as is evidenced in his signature "Investigation continues" but unfortunately "Further EDM sayeth naught."

It is sad news for the collecting community and especially for we lovers of Parkers.

May he rest in peace.

[Dave Noreen]

So sorry to hear of Ed's passing. Wish we'd have had more time to talk at The Vintage Cup. My sincere condolances to Nancy, the children and grandchildren. Ed will be missed.

Dave

[Eric Eis]

I am sorry to hear this even though I knew the day was coming, my condolances to Nancy and Ed's family. He was a great source of knowledge. Eric

[Dean Romig]

Would it be appropriate for someone to post an address to which we might send cards of condolence to Nancy?

[Bill Murphy]

Linda and I offer our sympathy to Nancy and her family. Our days spent together were very pleasant. Now I can claim full title to "PGCA Curmudgeon" rather than sharing it with Ed.

[Robin Lewis]

I don't know if it is something for the internet but his address is listed in the PGCA Membership Roster.

[Russ Jackson]

Yesterday was a sad day indeed ,to lose such a Fine Gentleman ! I had spoken to Ed on a few occasions and he was a wealth of knowledge and always very welcoming ,helpful and pleasant ! I am truly sorry to hear of his passing ,my Condolences to Eds Family ! Sincerely ; Russ Jackson

[Ed Blake]

I met Ed only once, but we had numerous telephone conversations. He was generous with his knowledge of the Parker gun and old time American "shooting flying". My condolences to his family and friends.

[Richard Flanders]

A big loss for sure. I had the pleasure two yrs ago of bringing him up to my house and treating him to my seafood pasta and showing him my modest Parker collection when he and Nancy were traveling around Ak in their motor home. He gave me copies of his books enriched me with his extensive Parker lore knowledge. It was a very memorable evening. Nancy had gone south with medical issues and Ed was alone in the motor home next to a local hangar belonging to a neighbor just below me who is an old friend of and who, as a young man, used to rent a house from Ed. I flew in from my project 85mi away and dragged him up to the house for dinner and talk. It seemed an opportunity not to be passed up at the time. I gave him a caribou antler to go with the moose antler Troy had given him and he fabricated a 'moosibou' for his extensive trophy wall on his barn when he got home. He was an avid and successful bow hunter.

[George Lander]

I met Ed twice at the Parker dinner in Easton, MD. The first time he was taking orders for the limited edition of "SHOOTING FLYING AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" I ordered my copy and then one year later met him there again & had it autographed along with my copy of "PARKER GUNS, THE OLD RELIABLE". He presented himself to be the true gentleman that he was. I know that he had some problem with PGCA, but don't know the reasons. I envied him telling about he and Nancy cruising the Bahamas and the Carribean. That has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I extend to Nancy and his family my deepest condolences.

George

[Dan Houghton]

To say Ed was generous with his extensive Parker knowledge is a gross understatement! When I was just starting out learning about all things Parker about 10 or more years ago, I called him to simply order a few of his catalog reprints. We talked for over an hour!!!! We talked several times after both on the phone and in person but that first call left a lasting impression on me. May he rest in peace.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Ed was a close friend for many years, I'll mourn his passing more than most. Here's a few pictures to illustrate how Ed (I believe) would want to be remembered:


On one of our first trips to Louisiana paddling a pirogue down the bayou.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/MarketHunter/Scan10_0010_010.jpg

In the duck blind, ready for an afternoon hunt.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/MarketHunter/Scan22_0022_022.jpg

The last time I visited him at his home, shipping out the limited editions of the new book.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/MarketHunter/Muderlak4.jpg

[Craig Larter]

I first met Ed at the Vintagers a few years ago when we were just forming the AH Fox Collectors Association, a very nice fellow and supportive of our efforts, he will be missed by everyone in the collecting community.

[Bruce Day]

he and Nancy cruising the Bahamas and the Carribean. That has been my dream for as long as I can remember. .

George


Do it now, George, do it now. Don't wait until you can't do it anymore. The loss of people we have known for years brings an urgency to our dreams.

[Austin W Hogan]

Thank you Kevin; I began to miss Ed the minute I heard of his death.

I will prepare a formal obituary for the Spring issue of Parker Pages. If anyone wishes to contribute a photo of Ed, or a memorial statement for the obituary, please send it to me at my regular e mail address, or by mail.

Austin W Hogan
PO Box 21
Piermont NH 03779

austin.w.hogan@valley.net

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Austin,

Feel free to use any of the ones I've posted.


D

[Joe Wood]

Fellers, the ranks of good gun writers is growing thin. First, it was Michael McIntosh and now Ed. Not many left who know what they're talking about and can scribble it on a piece of paper.

Thanks, Ed.

[King Brown]

Ed never failed to get my attention wherever he posted. With literary verve and style, he had opinions and wasn't afraid to express them. But it's how we use our lives that determine the kind of men we are. Ed lived to a true standard of human values. He did not live as a pretender during a robust life; he burned brightly to the end. Our fraternity is smaller with his loss.

[Dave Suponski]

Well said King..

[Dave Noreen]

Some regulars are probably getting tired of this pic from a Maryland pigeon shoot about eight or nine years ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/AShiftyCrew28x10cropped.jpg

[C Roger Giles]

Kevin said it as good as it could be said of Ed's passing.

Ed and Nancy overnighted at our home several time and always was an evening to remember ala Makers Mark or later in the evening in my gun room for a reinforcement of Oban single malt.

What a huge loss of gun and hunting lore shooting knowledge.

God Bless Ed and Nancy thanks for sweetness you brought to our home.

Roger "Coger" Giles

[Bill Murphy]

Thank you, Dave, for the great shot of the "Parker Researchers". For those that don't know, the pigeon shooters are Ed Muderlak, Kevin McCormack, Bill Murphy, Dave Noreen. The setting is a mid winter flyer shoot at the South Ridge Flyers Club, Taylorsville, Maryland, about twenty miles directly north of my house. Guns are probably Ed's old lightly choked BH, now owned by Destry Hoffard, Kevin's outrageous BHE very early vent rib trap, Murphy's PHE crossover stocked vent rib trap, and one of Dave's wonderful long barrel Foxes, probably the Philadelphia Arms Company C Grade safetyless pigeon gun. The guns are much more impressive than the shooters. Ed was a happy guy that day.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Well, You guys have said it all, Ed lived life to the fullest! something we all need to try and do. I will remember him every winter day by the fire reading his books,R.I.P.

[James T. Kucaba]

My most sincere sympathy to Ed's wonderful wife Nancy, his children, and grandchildren ... The sporting world and the PGCA has lost a GIANT who's knowledge and generosity knew no bounds. He would have celebrated his 70th birthday on Christmas Eve ... I admired Ed because he pulled no punches and suffered no fools. We met through my passion for Parker shotguns and he became my mentor ... But more than that, he became a cherished personal friend that I truly loved as a brother ... Like Destry said, "I will mourn him more than most," but that may be the understatement of the twenty first century ... Rest in Peace my friend ... Rest in Peace.

Jim Kucaba ... Phoenix, Arizona

[Dave Noreen]

I seem to recall Ed was using his straight gripped GHE this cold day in 2002. Not a great picture but here is Ed taking care of business --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/EdattheFore01.jpg

[Bill Murphy]

Wow. Another great picture. Dave, what were you shooting that day? Do you have some more pictures you can post of that day "On the Hill"?

[Jerry Andrews]

I don't know them but I'll surely send a card to Mrs. Muderlak. I found the address on another post. Sorry to hear about your friend, Respectfully, Jerry Andrews

[john hickerson]

RIP

Hick

[Dave Noreen]

I was using the Parker Bros. look alike Philadelphia Arms C-grade. I only have one other picture from that day, but it is not of Ed.

[Pete Lester]

Scott K. took EDM's former CHE duck hunting today, the gun that was featured on the cover of the dust jacket of "The Old Reliable". He took three greenheads, a black and a Canada goose with 6 shots. A guiding hand today on the barrels perhaps.

[Pete Lester]

For those interested here is the link to Ed's Obituary, too soon gone but he lived a very interesting life.

http://www.mccorklefuneralhome.com/index.php?option=com_phocaguestbook&view=phocaguestbook&id=200&Itemid=284

[Francis Morin]

I met Ed twice at the Parker dinner in Easton, MD. The first time he was taking orders for the limited edition of "SHOOTING FLYING AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE" I ordered my copy and then one year later met him there again & had it autographed along with my copy of "PARKER GUNS, THE OLD RELIABLE". He presented himself to be the true gentleman that he was. I know that he had some problem with PGCA, but don't know the reasons. I envied him telling about he and Nancy cruising the Bahamas and the Carribean. That has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I extend to Nancy and his family my deepest condolences.

George-- George, my friend- IMO- for a true Southern gentleman such as yourself to also bestow that favorable comment upon EDM speaks volumes. I have a copy of his fine book- "Parker Guns, The Old Reliable" and I admire his scholarly writing style. I also agree on his collecting mileu- own and shoot fewer but those Parkers- original and unaltered as much as possible- also his choice of the 12 bore.

I never met EDM- but my sympathy on his untimely passing to his wife and family and many friends, both here on the PGCA and elsewhere- And I look forward to seeing you in April 2011 George!!!:bigbye:

[George Lander]

Well said, Francis. Ed was one of those truly unique individuals who marched to the beat of his own drummer. There are far too few folks around like that now, and more's the pity. I, too, will look forward to meeting up with you at the Southern.

Best Regards, George

[C Roger Giles]

I can see a EDM memorial shoot comming on, I hope at the Vintagers.

Rog

[Dean Romig]

Hmmm... Food for thought. Thanks Roger.

[James T. Kucaba]

I can see a EDM memorial shoot coming on, I hope at the Vintagers.

Rog

Roger, I wholeheartedly agree that the PGCA should have some sort of an ongoing, yearly, memorial for Ed but he was a midwesterner who was better known for his research and his writing than for his shooting, so a "memorial shoot" on the east coast might not be the most appropriate way to honor a man who contributed so much to PGCA and the US shooting community as a whole ... AND, whatever the BOD decides upon should only be done with the consent and approval of Ed's wonderful wife Nancy.

Respectfully,
Jim Kucaba
Phoenix, Arizona

[Harry Collins]

I was shocked to hear of Ed's death. I always enjoyd EDM's post on this forum and if we went back and compiled them it would make, I am sure, an informative and sizeable read. I finaly met Nancy and him at the National Gun Day in Louisville September 2004. We spoke of sailing and of course Parkers. He showed me the butt plate of a pigeon gun Parker with the flying bird rather than the dogs head. I had never seen one before. He signed a copy of Knight of the Trigger for me and I had to scoot off to a dove hunt. We met again at the Southern in 2006 and he kept a room at the little motel spell bound with his insight on Parkers. His philosophy of collecting was to carry his best gun as a "benchmark" and any new addition must equal or better the one in hand.

He's running wing and wing and left us to keep a weather eye....

May the Peace of The Lord be with him.

Harry

[Gregory Miller]

Ed:
High are the waves Fierce, gleaming
High is the tempest Roar!
High the sea-bird screaming!
High the azore.
J.Slocum.

Fair winds.

[Gordon Green]

I also am saddened to hear of Eds passing. I only met Ed once, at the Las Vegas gun show, but we had a very interesting discussion about Wesson Shotguns. This led to several additional phone and emails between Ed, myself and Roy Jinks, Historian, Smith & Wesson, about these rare American guns.
Ed had an insatiable thirst to increase his knowledge of American guns and gunners and was always ready to share what he knew with others.
He certainly will be missed.
Gordon

[John Updegraff]

I met Ed a few years back, he was educating me in the Parker shotguns. He took me to a gunshow and traveling to and returning he told me how he got some of his imformation on writing his books, I found to be very impressive. The knowlede and information this man has is just overwelming.
I hunt his farm with flintlock blackpower musket, patch and roundball, and he has seen some of the shots I have made, and he commented in his books I got from him. My last hunt with him hunting deer was the first hunt this year, and I will miss hunting with out him. I always told him what I seen on his farm, the pheasents, quail, coyote and cats. At the end of the day of hunting he would have me discharge my flintlock and that was a sign my day was through and I was safely out of the field and he would not have to come looking for me. I will continue doing so and as a salute to you at the end of my hunt day in the field.
The traveling, fishing, hunting and the people he met and most of all his family he held close to his heart. Friends like him are far in few between and I will always cherish his moments he spent with me. I am blessed to have someone of his caliber to alow me to become and take part of what he cherish so much. God bless you and thanks for the life time of deer hunts you allowed me to have and you overlooked my disabilities and treated me just like a ordinary man.
My deepest condolences and sympathy go to his loving wife Nancy and family.

John and Nancy
Disabled Veteran.