Edward Carl Stoever, Jr. was born on March 13, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wis., and died of natural causes on Feb. 10, 2026 at the Seasons of Life Hospice Home in Woodruff, Wis. He was a resident in Rhinelander, Wis. Ed grew up in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Wis.; in Duluth, Minn.; and in Elmhurst, Ill. He graduated from York Community High School in 1943. He subsequently attended college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., where he earned a bachelor of science degree in 1948; and at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. where he earned a Master of Science (1948) and a Doctor of Philosophy (1959) degrees in geology. This educational odyssey was enhanced by service in the U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet Training Program (1944-1946); employment as a field exploration geologist with International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (1952-1954); summer employment with the U.S. Geological Survey in Glacier National Park (1950) and in the Western Aleutian Islands (1951); the initial years of employment at the University of Oklahoma (1956 - 1959); part-time work with the Oklahoma Geological Survey,; and numerous part-time jobs while a student.
In 1954 he married Norma Esther Johnson of Brantford, Ontario, Canada, with whom they raised two children, Catherine Ann Stoever (now Bohrer) (1956), and Gregory Edward Clark Stoever (1959). Norma died on April 3, 2006 in Rhinelander, Wis.
Ed’s professional employment included Professorships at the University of Oklahoma in Norman (1956-1978), and at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. (1978-1992); and, during leaves-of-absence, employment as an associate director of the Earth Science Curriculum Project of the American Geological Institute based in Boulder, Colo. (1969), and as an associate program director of Teacher Education with the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. (1970-1971).
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Ed also served as director of the Oklahoma Geology Field Camp near Canyon City, Colo. (1964-69); as associate Director for Undergraduate Studies at OU’s School of Geology and Geophysics (1970-72); as chairman of Southeast Missouri State University’s Earth Science Department (1978-84); and as the first Director of Southeast Missouri State University’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education (1983-86). While at OU he directed 28 National Science Foundation Teacher Education Institutes (1964-75); was director of the Oklahoma Earth Science Education Improvement Systems Project (1972-1974); was director of the National Association of Geology Teacher’s Crustal Evolution Education Project (1976-79) which produced materials still widely used in middle school grades throughout the United States; was co-director of the Missouri Kindergarten-Sixth Grade Science and Mathematics Improvement Project (KSAM) (1985-91) which produced materials still used in elementary schools throughout Missouri; and was executive director of the Missouri Alliance for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (1987-1992). His work in geologic education was recognized by his election as a fellow of the Geological Society of America (1989); as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1987); as president of the National Association of Geology Teachers (1976-77); and as chairman of the American Geological Institute’s Committee on Earth Science Education (1977-81).
After retiring from academic life in 1992, Ed, with the full support of his loving wife Norma, retired to permanent residence in Rhinelander, Wis., and summer residence at the Eagles Landing Mobile Home Park on Mamie Lake in the Cisco Chain along the Michigan border (1992-2008). In retirement Ed focused his energies on teaching bridge and developing bridge clubs, volunteer work and continuing to explore the meaning of life. These activities covered all communities within 50 miles of Rhinelander, and led ultimately to the founding of a successful continuing bridge club, Badger Bridge club, located in Eagle River, Wis. Volunteer work included, among other things, volunteering at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander in the Cancer Center, the front desk, and the emergency room; and in hospice volunteering. The search for the answer to life’s enduring questions continued through reading and group discussions and involvement in the Pinegrove Community Church, the United Church of Christ in Rhinelander, and the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Woodruff, Wis.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Carl and Klea Marguerite Stoever, Elmhurst, Ill.; by his brother Richard Julius Stoever, Wentzville, Miss.; and by his brother Robert Warren Stoever, Lombard, Ill. He is survived by his daughter Catherine Ann Bohrer of Chandler, Texas; his son Dr. Gregory Edward Clark Stoever (wife Laurie) of Fair Oaks, California; grandchildren Jeremy Glen Russell (wife Jaime), Katie Daniel Bohrer, Chelsea Elizabeth Thompson (husband Ben), Dillon Edward Bohrer, Lindsay Brooke Redman (husband Dave), Zachary Edward Stoever, Jordan Gregory Stoever (wife Libby), and Stephen Tyler Morgan Stoever (wife Katy); and by 11 great-grandchildren.
An ancient Chinese philosopher once opined something to the effect that, “The meaning of life is pleasure; pleasure comes from exerting efforts on behalf of others.” That is certainly true.
