Edward Mars Passe

Edward Mars Passe, known to all as Ed, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, in Wabasha, Minnesota, the same town where he was born on July 3, 1939. He was 86 years old. Ed built his life around the things he loved most: his family, faith, community, and the land and waters of Minnesota.A proud product of Wabasha, in 1957 he graduated from St. Felix High School, which later honored him with a Distinguished Graduate Award in 2006. He earned his degree from St. Mary’s University in Winona with the class of 1961. He then served his country in the U.S. Army with the 544th Ordnance Company, a Wabasha-based unit, activated to Fort Polk, Louisiana, during the 1961 Berlin Crisis.Returning home, Ed spent 43 years as a banker at the First State Bank of Wabasha, where he became not just a trusted face but a cornerstone of the community. His counsel, his integrity, and caring for his customers were constants for generations of Wabasha families. He was well known and deeply beloved, a man who met every day with a genuine smile and an unshakeable sense of optimism. He had a rare gift for finding common ground with anyone he met and for putting others at ease.In 1963, Ed married his college sweetheart, Sheila Robertson Passe, with whom he raised three sons, Theodore (Ted), Craig, and Geoffrey. Sheila preceded him in death in 1985 after a courageous battle with cancer. In 1986, Ed found love again in Luci (Ringey) Million. They married and were fortunate to share nearly 40 years together. He welcomed Luci’s daughter Christina into his family with the wholehearted devotion he gave to everything he cared about.Ed was a passionate sportsman. Whether he was in the duck blind, on water fishing, chasing a good round of golf, or carving turns down a ski slope, he was most at home in the outdoors. He held a lifelong love for the Mississippi River that shaped his hometown and found quiet contentment tending his gardens near its banks. For over 20 winters, Ed and Luci made Fort Myers, Florida, their second home, building a beloved community of friends from across the US and Canada.Steadfast Catholic faith was the foundation of Ed’s character, sustaining his hope through every season of life. He gave generously of his time and spirit as a lifelong member of St. Felix Catholic Church, a devoted supporter of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and a tireless champion of the Wabasha community. In recognition of this service, he was posthumously awarded the Bishop’s Medal by Bishop Robert Barron on June 18, 2026. In a final act of generosity, Ed donated his body to the Mayo Clinic Body Donation Program to advance scientific and medical research.Ed is survived by his wife, Luci Passe; his son Ted (Michele Arens) Passe and their children Connor, Olivia, and Blake; his son Craig (Heather Glidden) Passe and their children Ella and Leah; his son Geoff (Jackie Eversman) Passe and their children Jenna Eversman and Grant; his daughter Christina (Ryan) Kiley and their daughter Evalyn. He is also survived by his brother, Fred (Alice) Passe; his brother-in-law, Jim Mey-er; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sheila Passe; his parents, Edward and Elvira Passe; his sisters Carol Meyer and Nancy Kaupa; and his brother-in-law, Joe Kaupa.A visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha. The following morning, Friday, July 3, visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha, followed by a Memorial Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. The 3rd of July would have been Ed’s 87th birthday, a milestone he loved to spend surrounded by family and friends. In that spirit, all are warmly invited to a Celebration of Life from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Coffee Mill Golf Club in Wabasha.In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the St. Felix Building Fund, St. Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation, National Eagle Center, or Wabasha-Kellogg Area Community Fund. Words of sympathy or remembrance may be left at www.abbottfh.com. Arrangements are by Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha, MN