Edmund "Ed" Motl
October 28, 1930 ~ October 5, 2015
Edmund “Ed” George Motl, 84, Dilworth, Minnesota, formerly of Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 5th, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family.
Edmund was born on October 28th, 1930 to Edmund and Margaret (Etten) Motl in Bismarck. At a very early age, Edmund lost his father in a tragic accident. Margaret remarried Ralph Polasky in 1932. Edmund was raised and educated in Tappen, North Dakota. Edmund was inducted into the United States Army, 10th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, 1953. He did a tour in Germany, was honorably discharged and returned to North Dakota to pursue a career in education.
On June 25th, 1955 Edmund married Marilyn Hanft of Edmunds, North Dakota at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Frazee, Minnesota. The late Monsignor Junghans officiated. During their 60 years of marriage they raised five children, Steven, Cynthia (Casey), Mark, Tim and Carolyn. His family, friends, community and co-workers knew him as a hard working, energetic, kind, caring man.
He passionately pursued a career in education at the State Teachers College, Valley City North Dakota, 1958. Was an active member of the Kappa Chapter, Gamma Theta Upsilon, a national honorary geography fraternity. Edmund also served on the faculty of Kathryn High School, Kathryn North Dakota as 7th and 8th grade and first grade elementary teacher.
Moving to Fargo, North Dakota in 1960 started a long and successful educational career with the Fargo Public School District that lasted up to his retirement in 1993. Edmund served in various schools throughout the district and made lasting, lifelong impressions on his students. Edmund also served faithfully on the Teachers Retirement Fund program.
Edmund was a member of Nativity Parish, serving in various capacities throughout the years. Ed also served with the local Elks Club in Fargo. A good neighbor to all on 18th Street South, Ed was known to always lend a hand and help out, when needed. Many fond family memories traveled out to Lake Six, Frazee, Minnesota, where the Motl family enjoyed a weekend lake home for many years. Ed was known to swap a few fish stores with Rudy Stock and Lyle Toussaint!
Edmund and Marilyn retired and spent many wonderful winters in New Braunfels, Texas where new friends and adventures were made.
Edmund will always be remembered as a loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father and friend. Those left to cherish Edmund’s memory are his wife Marilyn of 60-years, and children, Steven, Cynthia (Jeff), Mark (Shari), Tim (Lisa) and Carolyn (Troy), his grandchildren, Jacob, Janelle, Ryan, Travis, Conner, Caleb, Tucker, Chelsea, Cody, Misty and Annie and many brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.
Preceding Edmund in death were his parents Edmund and Margaret; and siblings, Dennis, Joseph, Edward (Jim), Carol, Albert and George.
Prayer Service: 7:00 P.M. Thursday, October 8, 2015 at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo with visitation starting at 6:00 P.M.
Funeral Mass: 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 9, 2015 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.
Burial: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at a later date.
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“It is Okay to be Sad. It is Okay to Cry. But it is also Okay to Smile and Remember the Good Times.” Uncle Ed was the best Uncle/Great Uncle and we will miss him dearly. We especially remember all of our visits to Lake Six.
With sincere Sympathy and Caring,
Deb Feuerherm and Family
To the family of Ed.
My Husband & I belong to Sts Anne & Joachim Parish and for a few years I would talk with Marilyn & Ed about our family living in San Antonio (Air Force) for 8 years & then moving back to my home state of ND.
My son/family & our beloved Grandchildren still live in San Antonio so whenever Ed & Marilyn would make the trips each winter to New Braunfels I would ask if I could pack my bags & ride along at least that far. 🙂
Such a very nice couple your Mom/Dad, Grandparents, Brother, Uncle/Friend was.
I missed seeing them in Mass these past few months but I always said to myself that I knew we have so many times for Masses & they might have gone at a different time.
Yes, it hurts to loose a very dear loved one but he is in a better place now resting & no more suffering in this troubled earthly world with all the sadness/heartaches/tragic happenings these days.
I know (My Father) passed in May at the age of 92 and married to my Mother for 70 years. What a wonderful/long good life they had together.
Ed’s family has my deepest Sympathy. Cherish all the happy memories that Ed leaves us.
Your faith & the Loving God will help you get through this time of grief. RIP ED!
Dear Marilyn & family,
Was so sad to hear that Ed had passed away. He was a wonderful man & will be missed by so many people.
My prayers & thoughts are with you, Marilyn, & with all of your family. Love, Yvonne Toutant
Marilyn and family,
Our condolences to you as you grieve the loss of Ed. He, as well as you, Marilyn, touched many lives over the years as fellow educators in the Fargo schools. What a nice man he was and will surely be missed by you, your family and the many friends he has made over the years. We have enjoyed reconnecting with you the past few years when you came up to visit the Weslohs at our lake. May you find comfort in the many wonderful memories you have made over the 60 plus years that you and Ed were married.
Marv and Babe Mortenson
So very sorry for the loss of your dad,I remember him from Agassiz plus we lived on 17th st around the corner,I graduated with mark
Ed was one of my favorite teachers! I remember him fondly. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
Steve and the Motl family,
I know this is a time of sadness and grief, however, it is also a time of remembrance. Remembering all the lives your Dad touched through his years as an educator, all the fun on 18th Street and the memories made at Lake Six.
Your Dad had an infectious smile and laugh that would turn the grumpiest of students or teachers into smiling and laughing individuals. You and your families will have many times of unexpected tears and that is ok, but remember to laugh and enjoy the stories remembering your husband, Dad, Grandfather, uncle and friend.
Please know that your in my thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow.
Pam (Little Pammy)
Naylor
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. I remember having Mr. Motl as a teacher at Agassiz as well as knowing him as Carolyn’s dad. Always had a smile on his face! May he rest in peace and I THANK HIM for his service in the military.
We remember our dear Ed from his many years of work with NDEA now NDU.
We were at many meetings with Ed.
We new him last from CCARTA.
We will miss him.
Bob & Ruth Stefonowicz
Marilyn and Family,
Words can never say enough at this time, but the memories are there to last a lifetime. Even though our families never got together enough through the years. I still have the good memories of when we did and will continue to cherish them.
I’ll always remember him for his smile and how well known he was throughout the Fargo community because of all the lives he has touched. People would always ask me if we related because of the last name Motl.
Your husband and father will always be cherished by so many. He was a great man to so many.
Kirk and Lori Motl
Mr. Motl was one of my favorite teachers. I remember him for his encouragement especially to those students who were not the easiest to teach years during their junior high years. He was gifted in that he made me feel like I was the only one he was teaching even in a class of 30 plus students. Many times I have retold this story to my own children. He will be missed by the many he has blessed.
I am so sorry to hear about Ed. My deepest Sympathy to you and your family. I am glad I got to know you two threw Mom and Dad. I know they really enjoyed your company and the good times in Texas.
I thoroughly enjoyed my learning experience in Mr. Motl’s class at Agassiz Junior High. He was an encouraging and empathetic teacher. He talked with you as if you were the only and most important person around.Even years after being out of his classroom, Mr. Motl would greet me warmly (remembering me!) and ask about my life. Now that I am in education, I can only hope to inspire my students in the same way! Thank you, Mr. Motl, for helping me become who I am now and hope to be. And to all his family, having lost my mom less than a month ago, remember that you are his legacy and that the memories will help buoy you in the days, weeks ahead.
To The Motl Family,
I am sorry for your loss and for as hard as it is to lose a loved one, memories will help you to take those hard steps forward. Mr. Motl was a Favorite teacher of mine at Agassiz and he was amazing at it and always made you feel good about yourself and worked with you until you understood what is was you needed to know. Will never forget his sense of humor, his smile and laugh! Thank you for being such an amazing, caring teacher!!
I am very sorry for your loss. Mr. Motl was one of my favorite teachers. I remember him going out of his way to make the “harder” students feel special and important. He had a real passion for learning and education that he instilled in his students. He was really a great teacher.
I treasure many great memories of Ed. Our years together teaching, laughing and sharing in the Agassiz Science Department, a trip to NASA, a visit with he and Marilyn to New Braunfels, hunting trips and field trips are fond remembrances.
Wendy and I will miss him.
Our best wishes to Marilyn and his family
Clyde and Wendy Willman
Marilyn,
You and Ed were a welcoming family when I arrived in Fargo and joined both of you with the Fargo Public Schools. The many get togethers we enjoyed in the early days at the various homes of our group will be cherished and valued forever. Those who were fortunate to have had Ed as a teacher were fortunate not only for his dedication to their education but for having know him as the person he was as well. You can be assured that you, Ed, and your family will remain an integral memory of times past and you all will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as you have been for many years.
Lorne L Monson
Marilyn and family,
I babysat for you many Friday or Saturday nights when Steven and Cynthia were the only two children. You lived in the quonset huts across from the college. I also remember that Ed worked at Drugans Super Value where my brother, Mike, worked. Years later, we connected at Nativity Parish in Fargo, where my husband and I were parishioners for a couple years.
I extend my sympathy to all for your loss.
Maureen Morrissey Bushard
My heart is filled with sadness when I think of my dad & not being able to talk to him, give him a hug or a kiss good night, but then when I read all the wonderful cards, posts on this site and hear the nice words everyone has said about their experiences working with my dad, being his student or other relatives my heart explodes with joy because he gave so much to so many! How can I not be joyful in knowing he lived his life to the fullest & gave so much to everyone he came in contact with over the years. In all reality, it will be a flash in time & I will be able to see my dad again! I love you & am so grateful & honored to call you my dad! Thanks to all of the you who posted such great words about my dad, Edmund. I know it means the world to my siblings as well as to our mom, Marilyn. God Bless to all!