Edward Brendan Tschida

Edward Tschida (known as Brendan in his youth and “Big Ed” in his later years) passed peacefully on July 28, 2021, having been visited by many of his friends in the preceding days. 

He was born to Ed and Frieda Tschida on July 23, 1951. His sister Cecelia joined the family a few years later. He lived in the family home on Harvey Street in Milwaukie, Oregon for most of his life, only moving out when he lost a leg to diabetes and retired in his early ‘60s. He enjoyed mowing the extensive lawn, picking fruit from the small orchard, and keeping up the garden. It was a lot of work and he loved it. 

After graduating from Putnam High School, he found employment as a janitor for Melvin Mark Commercial Properties, the Elks Club, Portland Public Schools and the Portland International airport. He was proud to be a SEIU union member and secure a PERS pension. His finest hour was when he helped organize and speak on behalf of his fellow janitors to get their jobs back after the PPS had locked them out. He took great pride in his work and enjoyed interacting with the kids when they needed someone to talk to.

He enjoyed eating good food, whether it was something he barbecued himself on his grill or going to family gatherings at Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Elsie Tschida’s “farm” in Oak Grove or Uncle Adam and Aunt Elsie Heineman’s in Portland. 

 In his off-time, he enjoyed going to movies, bowling at the Milwaukie Bowl, even getting several 300 games. There were several restaurants he particularly enjoyed with friends over the years: the Spaghetti Factory, Tebo’s, the Bomber, Pietro’s Pizza and Dan & Louie’s Oyster Bar. Music was always important to him. He had a tremendous vinyl collection when he lived on Harvey Street and later accumulated an extensive collection of CDs. Music was a good companion for him, especially in his later years. 

His mother was from Ireland and he traveled to England with her once to meet his maternal grandfather. Many summers as a child, he would go back to Ontario, Oregon to visit his cousins and later, after his dad had retired to Parma, Idaho, he went back and helped his dad on his place. 

“Big Ed” is survived by his sister Cecelia, and many cousins, nieces and nephews in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Alberta, Canada. He will be laid to rest next to his father on his farm in Parma, Idaho. A private graveside family service is planned for August 11thwhere he will be buried next to his dad on the family farm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97211 or SacredFlight, PO Box 6866, Portland OR 97228, a palliative music practice for end of life care. He enjoyed their harp music very much the last days of his life.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edward Brendan Tschida, please visit our floral store.