Eddie Muniz

Ed Muniz was a skilled man with a big heart. He cherished his family and valued his friends. As comical as he was, Ed was also understanding and caring. He liked to help people as much as he enjoyed making them laugh. Ed lived each day of his 38 years in devotion to the people he loved.

Ed was born at the end of a decade of radical change in America. Despite the Vietnam War, protests on college campuses, and the assassination of key political leaders, the United States made gains in the civil rights movement and space race with the first moon walk. A true bright spot for Ruben and Elida (Espinosa) Muniz was the birth of their second child. Eddie Arthur was born on August 29, 1969 at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell, Michigan. The family lived in Kalamazoo for the first few years of Eddie’s life but then moved to a house on AB Avenue. His father supported the family through his work at Bell Telephone and later AT&T. His mother remained at home to care for the children, which included making delicious tamales and lemon meringue pie. Ron, Ed, and Diana grew up secure in the love of their parents and they remained close throughout their lives.

As a young child, Eddie showed a curiosity for mechanical objects, taking them apart and figuring out how to put them back together. He also developed a keen interest in cars, which only grew with age and his own ability to drive. Ed liked to cruise with his friends and go to drag races. It was little wonder that his favorite subject in high school was auto mechanics. He never missed a class, excelled in what he learned, and put his skills to use rebuilding a 1970 Cutlass Supreme. He cherished that car but, in later years, he purchased a green 1972 classic Monte Carlo that became his baby. He was proud to take it to car shows at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners. Love of cars and excellent mechanical skills were his trademark interests that turned into a profession once he completed high school.

The day after he graduated from Otsego High School in 1987, Eddie went to work for Jim Koestner in Plainwell. He came highly recommended by his auto shop teacher, and he didn’t disappoint his boss or his customers. Eddie loved his job. Not only did he get to work on cars, he also felt good about helping his customers. They trusted him to do a great job, and he did.

Ed spent his career in the automotive field, first in Plainwell and later at Dreisbach Motors in Hastings, but he was also made himself available to family when they needed auto repairs. His mechanical skills certainly came in handy, but his character also played a huge role. Not only was Eddie able to help, he was always willing to lend a hand.

Ed was generous in heart and spirit. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was known as a jokester and master of one-liners that just rolled off his tongue. Of course, he managed to slide in the occasional bit of sarcasm, but his sense of humor only gained him more friends. Even as time passed, he remained close to his friends and found time to go fishing, camping, canoeing, or visiting the casinos in Mt. Pleasant.

Eddie’s best friend was the young woman who became his wife. He had met Sheila Stull already when he was 16, and they dated on-and-off for a while. But early on in their relationship, Ed knew that they would one day be married. He popped the question in a traditional way: down on one knee, which was quite a feat at the time because his leg was in a cast. It was the greatest day of Eddie’s life when he and Sheila made their vows on November 11, 1995 at Doster Reformed Church, and their son Tyler took part in the ceremony. The wedding was a big affair, with everyone having such fun that they didn’t want the celebration to end.

Ed and Sheila continued to celebrate their life together by doing the things they enjoyed. They went to shows, especially comedies that included local and major headliners such as Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby. In entertainment and music, Ed liked variety. Quite often they saw live shows, like Rent and Ragtime, at Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo. Truth be told, Eddie liked going out because he liked to get decked out. It was important to him that his hair was perfect and his clothes were just right in style and comfort. Ed was a class act.

Best of all, Ed was a very attentive father. He spent time with Tyler, teaching him what he knew. It was natural for Ed to show his son how engines and other mechanical objects worked. He and Tyler had a bond that couldn’t be broken.

Ed’s family mourns his death. He had so much more to give, and his wife and son, parents, siblings and friends will always remember just how much he meant to them.

Ed Muniz, age 38 of Plainwell, died on October 18, 2007 after an illness at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Members of Eddie’s family include his wife Sheila, his son Tyler, his parents Ruben and Elida (Espinosa) Muniz, his brother Ron and his wife Audrey, his sister Diana and her husband Jason Lewis, brother and sister-in-law Autumn and Rusty Schmidt, a brother-in-law Brad Stull, Father-in-law Rick and his wife Tammy Stull, Mother-in-law Sharon Stull and many other relatives and friends. Learn more about Ed, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG ,Plainwell, 120 S. Woodhams. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.

Tuesday at the same location. Please visit Ed’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo, sign his memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to Hospice Care of SW Michigan or to your preferred Hospice.