Edwin Leo Kaminskas, 89, of Grand Rapids passed away on September 27, 2026, from the effects of Parkinson's Disease.

Ed, as he was known, was the second of three sons born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, to Adam Kaminskas and Annie Zuransky Kaminskas. His father died when he was five, so his mother raised the three spirited brothers on her own. In high school, a book about submarines captured Ed's imagination and led him to join the US Navy. He served proudly as an electrician on the submarine, USS Batfish.

Following his time in the Navy, Ed worked as an electrician in the shipyards while studying and attending night classes for college prep.Two and a half years later he had saved enough to attend the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he earned a degree in production management/business administration.

Ed had an early interest in technology, and in 1964, when computers were mainframes filling entire rooms, he began working in a computer department at New Britain Machine. During that time he was sent for training at IBM and began to work in system development. Ed enjoyed a career as a systems analyst for several decades until his retirement from Meijer Corporation.

Ed met his wife, Mary Pool, in 1967 at a ski resort in Quebec. He was traveling with a group from New England, Mary was with a group from Ann Arbor, and the rest was history. They were married for 50 years, until Mary's death, and had three children: Eric, and "surprise twins" Mary Anne and Christina.

Fed by lifelong curiosity and a sense of adventure, Ed had many unusual pursuits. In his single days he raced a Ford Mustang at regional tracks. Later, he decided to learn Lithuanian and traveled to Lithuania, his mother's birthplace. He ran a computer sales business out of his home. And, when he developed an interest in shipwrecks, he earned SCUBA certification. Each of these interests, and others too numerous to list, he pursued with his whole heart.

Ed's love and provision for his family were a reflection of his Christian faith and deep gratitude for the good life he had been given. He was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren, and always loved catching up with friends or talking with his brothers on the phone. We will all miss his kindness, humor, and love.

Ed is survived by his three children, Eric (Kristina), Mary Anne (Marko), and Christina (Chris); his grandchildren, Elsa, Peter, Lidija, Greta, and Luka; and his brother, Thomas (Paulette). He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary, and his brother Adam "Joe" Kaminskas.

Visitation will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, October 2, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm., both at the auditorium at Beacon Hill at Eastgate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beacon Hill Employee Scholarship Fund. The family wishes to thank the staff at Beacon Hill for their outstanding care and compassion during Ed's final years.