Edwin E. ’Sonny’ Gulsvig

Edwin "Sonny" Gulsvig passed away suddenly at his home Thursday, March 13, 2008.Sonny was born September 9, 1928 in Erdahl, Minnesota to Edwin and Edna Gulsvig. As a youngster he always had a ball in his hands ? be it football, basketball or baseball. He graduated from Elbow Lake High School in 1946 and continued his education at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he was active in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated in 1950. After teaching and coaching one year in Moose Lake, Minnesota, Sonny was drafted into the US Army. When he completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he married his high school sweetheart, Marcella Summers. After the army he attended graduate school at the U of M and in the fall of 1954 he started teaching and coaching at Sauk Centre, Minnesota. In the fall of 1955 he joined the Concordia College Physical Education Department where he taught, was the head basketball coach, assistant football coach and also coached baseball. In 1991, after 37 years at Concordia, Sonny retired due to poor health. He still remained active in many different areas, including speaking engagements, flipping pancakes at Eventide, playing Santa Claus at Eventide, helping coach wherever he was needed, like Pelican Rapids, and assisting his son, Chuck, with MHS sophomore football. He also enjoyed their lake cabin and countless hours of fishing.He was very proud of his family ? Penny Bucky Burgau, Kathryn Mel Masseth, Kristofer Patty Gulsvig, and Chuck Darlene Gulsvig, his nine grandchildren ? Jennifer Schwantz, Rachel Bergeson, Sarah Mitchell, Sam Masseth, Becky Gulsvig Fisher, Peter Gulsvig, Bobbie Jo Gulsvig, Jaclyn Gulsvig and Maggie Gulsvig and three great-grandchildren, Katelynn and Austin Schwantz, and Tyden Bergeson.He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marcella, four children, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one sister, Alida Gulsvig and two aunts, Phyllis Johnson and Marvel Sandberg.The Gulsvig family is very grateful for the excellent care Sonny received from MeritCare, Roger Maris Cancer Center and specifically, Dr. Gerald Gross.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church or Concordia College.