Edward Hooper Doerr

Edward Hooper Doerr 1925-2021

Former prominent Cass City businessman, owner of the Doerr Insurance Agency, as well as a 13-year, former Cass City High School teacher, Edward Hooper Doerr died December 22, 2021 following complications from a stroke, at age 96.

Born in Cass City to notable citizens Herman and Retta Doerr, Ed attended his hometown grade and high schools culminating in a WW II era graduation with the Cass City High School class of 1943.

Following graduation, in February 1943 Ed and his best, life-long friends Jim McCoy and the late Fred Auten travelled to Detroit to enlist in their elective branches of military service, Ed joining the Unites States Navy to serve his country alongside his active duty older brother Phillip Doerr as an American sailor. Ed related later the story of the two brothers serving on different ships coincidentally aligning during deployment in the South Pacific allowing for a joyful reunion between the two Doerr brothers, Ed granted permission to ferry a craft over to Phil's ship to be reunited.

After initial Navy boot camp training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in North Chicago Ed was awarded V-6 General Service and Specialists classification and transferred to Camp Shoemaker, Pleasanton, CA where sailors await their overseas assignments. He received his orders and subsequently was shipped out to the Seebees built Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo New Heberdies, part of the Solomon Island chain in the western South Pacific.

Ed's active duty was primarily the South West Pacific Theatre serving aboard a tank landing ship USS LST 227 AND USS LST 679, respectively, servicing the Palau Islands, Philippines, and Guadalcanal Island chains. After the Japanese surrender in August 15, 1945,  USN Operation Crossroads July 29/30 1946 tasked Ed with a memorable assignment to crew aboard the Japanese Super-dreadnought battleship Nagato sent to a specific Pacific location and later sunk as a target.

For his active duty service in the South West Pacific Theater campaigns Ed was awarded The Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Area Campaign medal and the Victory medal.

He was discharged as Yeoman 3rd class (Y3C) USN June 1946. In September of that year with an eye to the future Ed enrolled at the then Michigan State College, East Lansing where two significant events occurred; graduation MSU 1951 with Bachelor of Science degree and the second being a life altering accomplishment of marrying his Traverse City sweetheart Naida Caroline Spoor. They went on to build a happy life together in Cass City with their four children and were active members in their church and community.

During his lifetime Ed was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Masons, American Legion, Cass City Gavel Club, White Creek Club, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) Caseville Aerie.

1985 brought a much happily anticipated retirement to the family summer home at Caseville, MI on the shores of Saginaw Bay for Ed and his wife Naida, who proceeded him in death 2005. In 2012 Ed met his final, cherished life partner June Kretzschmer, Caseville, and they shared Ed's remaining years filled with travel and family outings and visits which memories are treasured.

Ed was proceeded in death by his wife Naida Caroline Doerr (1929-2005), his son Randon Scott Doerr (1949-2008) and daughter Deborah Jean Pasieczny (1951-2019).

He is survived by his daughter Patricia Michele Coleman (Bill) Leesburg, FL,  son Edward James Doerr, Caseville, MI, grandchildren Casie Pasieczny Cass City, MI, Marni Carnahan (Jon) Ypsilanti, MI,  Derek Doerr (Ruby) Cass City, MI, and step-granddaughter Nikky Manausa (Bo) Tallahassee, FL.

A memorial service is being planned for the Spring or Summer. Burial in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City will take place at that time.

 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." - Ecclesiastes 12:7

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edward Hooper Doerr, please visit our floral store.