Edward F. Gorrilla

PRINCETON, Minn. — Edward F. Gorrilla, 91, died Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Fairview Northland Medical Center, Princeton.

He was born in Ironwood, Mich., on Aug. 3, 1924, to Edward and Susan (Jarabko) Gorrilla. He was raised in Norrie Location and attended elementary school and high school in Ironwood. After high school, Ed served three years in the U.S. Army, including 18 months of duty in Europe during World War II.

Subsequent to his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Ed returned to college and played football at Montana State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Montana State and continued his education, earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1952.

He married Florence Fischer on July 31, 1960, in Moorhead, and they had one child, Heidi. They made their home in Fargo, N.D.

Ed loved working with youth and sharing his love of sports with them. Ed was very involved in youth sports in Fargo, Moorhead and Glyndon. He was a physical education teacher in Fargo schools for 35 years. He coached baseball, football, basketball and track and field. Ed was a member of the North Dakota State University statistical crew for football and basketball for more than 50 years.

In addition, Ed coached American Legion baseball in Fargo and Glyndon, coached Babe Ruth and served as the Minnesota Babe Ruth District Director for many years. He was honored by being elected to the Fargo North High School Hall of Fame, the Minnesota Babe Ruth Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2004 and the North Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Florence preceded him in death on May 16, 2015. For the last year and a half, Ed had been living at Guardian Angels Care Center in Elk River.

Ed is survived by his daughter, Heidi (Tom) Warnke, Big Lake; grandchildren, Stephen and Kristyn Warnke, Nicole and Fred Binczik, and Kristine Warnke; great-grandchildren, Nakyah, Elise and Tonette Warnke, and Abby Binczik; sister, Dorothy Baima; sister-in-law, Charlotte Fischer; brother-in-law, Donald Fischer; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services have been held.