Edward William Kaelber, II died peacefully on September 10, 2018 at Burlington Memorial Hospital. He was born January 18, 1959 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Don and Yvonne (Peterson) Kaelber. His personality was larger than life.
He filled a room with laughter and he attracted the best sort of people. On February 14, 2002, he married the love of his life, Amy Litkey. He was a master plumber by trade and worked for the family business, Kaelber Company, until it closed in 2008.
He was a long-time employee of AMS Mechanical downtown Chicago. He was a former Tri-County Contractors Association member and board member. Early in life, Ed found he had a love of water and a knack for showmanship.
In 1972, he joined Aquanut Water Shows, Inc.–first as a skier, then a championship caliber show-director, then as the voice of the show. He also traveled the Eastern seaboard and Wisconsin skiing, driving boat, and announcing professionally for Tommy Bartlett’s in Gaitlinburg, Tennessee and in Wisconsin Dells. And he performed as a skier and boat driver at Atlantis Water Park in Hollywood, Florida.
He also voiced several radio commercials and used his gift to announce at Winter Thunder Snocross Racing and WPSA AMSOIL Powersport Snowmobile Tour. He was a daredevil, always. First learning to fly a delta-wing kite around the age of 15.
He delighted Aquanut crowds and residents on both Lake Elizabeth and Lake Mary soaring through the skies. He also raced Sprint cars for Kaelber Racing under Al Winker Motorsports. for many years at Wilmot Speedway.
He was part of the pit crew with Ted Musgrave Busch Truck Racing Series. Ed also was an accomplished snow skier and a member of the Royal Christies. He was tops on his ballet skis and cut a mean s-curve on his slalom skis.
To help support that habit, in his younger years, he worked at Munson Marine in Volo, Illinois. In his early life, Ed was a graduate of Tremper High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Marquette University. He loved motoring around on his mini-bike and water-skiing with friends and siblings.
Later, he truly enjoyed teaching his children to ski and sharing his joy of being on the water with his wife and kids. He was also really into music and attended many a concert at The Edgewater in Twin Lakes and the Alpine Valley Music Theater, often sneaking in through the window after curfew of his parents’ Twin Lakes Park home. As a little kid, his mom says he was never without a book in his hand.
That early delight of reading carried through as an adult. Rarely did Ed ever go anywhere without a book in his hand or in his car. But most of all, Ed loved being a parent and spending time with wife and kids.
Ed is survived by his wife, Amy. His children: Edward W. Kaelber III, Shelby L. Kaelber, Jeanean Raven (Cory Keske) Kaelber and William E. Kaelber. He is further survived by his parents, brother, D.J. (Tara) Kaelber and sisters, Lora Kaelber and Elizabeth McCoy.
He was a beloved grandfather to Wyatt and Jaxson. A Gathering of Friends will take place Friday, September 14, 2018 from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at the Haase-Lockwood & Associated Funeral Home and Crematory, 620 Legion Drive, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Online condolences may be made at Haaselockwoodfhs.com.
Memorials in Edward’s name may be made to the family to assist with William’s future educational needs.
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