It is with great sadness and much love that we say goodbye to our beloved Edwin, who passed away at the age of 83 on Oct. 3, 2025, at his home in Lincoln City, Oregon. He was born Edwin David Biedekapp to Fred and Euphemia Biedekapp on Feb. 2, 1942, the only of his five siblings to be born on the family farm in Walton. With siblings Ronald, Malcolm, Maggie, Jennie and Tom he worked the farm and created some great memories. At age 17, upon graduation, Edwin joined the United States Air Force and served our country for four years. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and spent time in Japan as well. He looked forward to the letters that his mother wrote to him every day about daily life on the farm. After his service, he ventured to California, trying numerous occupations including modeling, acting, floral work and bartending. In 1964, he went back to Syracuse and attended Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, receiving his certification. Upon completion he returned to California in 1965 and began working at Forest Lawn Memorial Park and a floral shop in Los Angeles, California. Living in Los Angeles Edwin met, worked for and became friends with many celebrities. He tells of comedian Carol Burnett calling one day in need of a special centerpiece for her dinner party. He created a beautiful red gladiola cascading arrangement that she loved. She continued to call on Edwin for future arrangements.
In 1975 Edwin met Franc Gaither, an outstanding professional pianist and singer. Edwin became Franc’s good friend and manager in Bellevue, Washington, booking performances at the luxurious waterfront Edgewater Hotel for 20 years. After that they made their home in Palm Springs, California, one of their favorite homes. Edwin booked performances for Franc at places such as Merv Griffin’s Givenchy Hotel & Spa, The Gene Autry Hotel, Melvyn’s Ingleside Inn, and more in the area. They met celebrities like Zsa Zsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, June Allison, Lily Tomlin, Shirley McClain, Bob Hope, Gloria Swanson, George Hamilton, Rosalyn Russell, Barbara Streisand, Carol Channing, Jane Fonda, to name a few. Edwin’s friend Red Skelton asked Edwin to be on his TV show, as he felt he was very funny, but he declined and preferred to be behind the scenes.
In 1980 Edwin experienced the terror of Mount Saint Helen’s eruption, trying to drive through the limited visibility, with the hot ash covering him and his car. He made it home, but the car was ruined.
Performances continued along the Oregon coast, at Gracie’s Sea Hag, Salishan Lodge, and Side Door Café. In 1997 Edwin purchased a home in the Historic Grandview Estates, in Taft, Oregon, overlooking Schooner Creek. Edwin cherished the many pets he had all his life - he had several cats and dogs as loving companions. Any dog or cat that was lucky enough to be adopted by Edwin, truly hit the jackpot and were pampered to the highest. They also enjoyed the woodland animals on their property, providing food and fresh water, even giving some of them names. “Billy Buck” and “Jane Doe” were beautiful deer that would visit Edwin in the garden and get their treats of apples, sometimes even walking up to the door to wait for them. Even while in the hospital Edwin requested that treats and fresh water still be put out for “Possy” the opossum, the ravens and hummingbirds at home.
Edwin truly had a green thumb. He could take a sickly-looking plant and make it thrive. He would spend hours working on his flowerbeds and flowering shrubs; he took great pride in the beautiful blossoms throughout the year. Indoors, he had a room full of household plants and numerous holiday cactus that all came from his grandmother’s original plant that was 100 years old and still blooming.
Edwin was a well-known happy face at Eleanor’s Undertow ice cream parlor in the historic district of Taft, Lincoln City, Oregon, where he worked for numerous years. He was considered “one of the family” to the Kramer and Brosy families and was always included in family gatherings and annual trips to the rodeo. Edwin was there to help when Eleanor had to leave their 40-year, bright pink landmark building on 51st street two years ago and was able to see the reopening of it at their new location at the Siletz Bay Trading Post on 51st Street in Taft this year. He is a part of their family that will truly be missed but never forgotten.
Edwin had a great appreciation for the arts, theater, fine art and above all, music. Upon Franc’s passing, Edwin donated Franc’s grand piano to the Lincoln City Cultural Center, where it remains to this day. Edwin listened to classical piano music daily, a very soothing and peaceful sound for his final days. All who knew Edwin will remember him for his humor, kindness, love of flora and fauna, and above all his endless, interesting “long story short” stories of his fascinating life. He lived it to the fullest.
Edwin was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Euphemia Biedekapp, his brother Ronald Biedekapp and good friend Franc Gaither. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and by his siblings Malcolm Biedekapp (Mary Ann) of Georgia, Maggie Biedekapp (John Rouse) of Texas, Jenny Biedekapp-Walker (Mike Walker) of Alabama and New York and Thomas Biedekapp (Barbara Ann) of Pennsylvania, as well as several nieces and nephews and their families.
Per Edwin’s request there will be no service or memorial. If you would like to honor Edwin with a donation, they can be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice of Newport, Kitty Galore Inc., 60 Twining Rd., Johnson City, NY 13960, The Humane Society of Portland, Oregon and Newport, Oregon, or to your local animal shelter in his name.
