Edward Tuma

Edward Tuma of Mt. Pleasant, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many passed away March 7 with his family by his side. Ed left this life peacefully to join the love of his life, Justine Tuma, who predeceased him in 1994.

His funeral will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd., with Reverend Stephen Shugert officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and on Friday one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Hospice or the Mt. Pleasant Soup Kitchen. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ed was the eighth of nine children born in a loving Lebanese family. Ed spent his childhood and teenage years in Huntington Woods and graduated from Berkley High School in 1947 where he was a stellar athlete in football, baseball and track. Ed was also a member of the United States Merchant Marines. He served on three merchant ships that carried grain and goods to the people in Europe. In 1949, Ed married Roma Justine VanOrder and after living his early married life in Ferndale, moved to Mt. Pleasant to help build and work at The Embers Restaurant. Ed worked as a director in the food commons of Central Michigan University and assisted in the opening of the University Center (now the Bovee Center) food service area prior to joining the Embers€™ team where he worked for the next 25 years as manager of banquets/catering and the lounge area.

In 1982, after his €œretirement€ , Ed and his sons established the restaurant, Justine, in the city of Midland. Justine soon became famous for its haute cuisine and impeccable service. The restaurant was featured in many national magazines. After five successful years, the restaurant was remodeled to add a second restaurant, Café Edward which Ed managed until 2001. After retiring from the restaurant business, Ed held various jobs at WalMart of Midland, for the Labelle Corporation in Mt. Pleasant, The Embers in Mt. Pleasant, the Great Lakes Loons, and Great Lakes Wine and Spirits. Ed was an extraordinary artist, a superb cook, a gifted designer and engineer, and an excellent gardener.

Surviving Ed are his sons, Van (Patti) Tuma of Midland, Tony Tuma of Chicago, and Mike Tuma and Todd Tuma of Mt. Pleasant. Also surviving are his four grandchildren who were a great source of love, joy and pride, Jacob Tuma, John Tuma, Daniel Tuma, and Justine Tuma. Ed is also survived by his brother, Clarence (Marianne) Tuma of Mt. Pleasant; and sister, Diana Dresselhouse of East Lansing; in addition to many nieces and nephews all of whom he dearly loved.

Ed was predeceased by his parents, Amos and Edith Tuma, a sister, Mary Tuma, and brothers, Daniel, William, James, Samuel, and Norman Tuma.