Edwin R. Feld

Edwin R. Feld, age 97, of Allouez, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2020 at his home. He was born August 7, 1923 in Maplewood, WI, and on July 11, 1943, married Grace Kenney, who preceded him in death after 57 years of marriage. Edwin served his country in the Merchant Marines during WWII as an electrician aboard oil tankers through November of 1945.
Edwin started his working career in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, first as an electrician as Feld Electric. Then became an appliance dealer in Ewen and then in Marquette. It was 1951 when he began his real estate career after moving to Green Bay. He worked as a salesman for Matt Van Lannen and then for Peter Dorschel. He listed and sold homes while doing appraisals. Always thinking he could do it better on his own, he started Feld Realty Company in 1958. He formed a small sales team and began to prosper in the 60’s. He started Walnut Builders to construct spec homes during a time when there were very few builders doing that in Green Bay. He would purchase raw land and develop subdivisions. This was going so well his construction company could not keep up so he formed a relationship with Harry Macco of Hillcrest to build homes in his subdivisions. He ultimately developed fourteen (14) subdivisions with over 1,000 lots. In the 60’s and 70’s this was rather substantial for the Green Bay area. While Hillcrest built the homes in his subdivisions his construction company was building apartment buildings for his own portfolio. Before that ended he had acquired thirteen (13) apartment buildings. He then started constructing and purchasing office buildings. He had so much going on with the. brokerage business, the apartments and office buildings that he decided to close Feld Realty in 1981 and sold the apartment buildings in 1985. This gave him time to focus on developing office buildings. He ultimately ended up with eleven (11) office projects. Over the years he leased office space to companies such as American Can (for runner to James River Paper Company) IBM and Schreiber Foods. Ed was quite a promoter doing billboard ad campaigns, flashy newspaper ads and he was the first business to fly a plane over Lambeau Field during the games pulling a banner reading “Feld Realty A shining Star #15”. During the 1970’s Ed hosted “Let’s Talk Real Estate,” his own call-in radio program every Saturday morning. Over the years he helped hundreds of people with their real estate problems. In his later years while son Dennis was running the company, he worked fervently on his stock and bond portfolio, a favorite past time of his.
Edwin was active in community service, having served six years on the board of directors for the United Fund, six years on the St. Vincent Hospital advisory board, four years as president of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce among other things. As Director of the School Board, he was instrumental in the construction of Wequiock Elementary School in the Town of Scott. He was awarded 1958 “Man of the Year” by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and in 1965 was one of two recipients of the Mutual Trust Life Insurance Company- Good Citizenship Award. Although he only had a high school education, he considered himself a “student” all his life. He taught a credit course in real estate for four years at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay and several courses in real estate for NWTC. During his career and after retirement he remained active at Faith Lutheran Church in Green Bay, of which he was a founding member, having served as Secretary-Treasurer and on the Board of Elders.
He is survived by his three children: Dennis (Kathy) Feld, Patti (Vern) Goin and Kathleen (Steve) Kersten; grandchildren: Emily Branden, Justin (Sarah) Feld, Megan (Javier) Sepulveda, Jack Goin, Patrick Goin, Jeff (Kelsey) Goin, Erin Kersten and Adam (Mary) Kersten; great-grandchildren: Grace Goin, Jackson Goin, Noelle Goin, Theodore Goin, Ellsie Kersten, Owen Kersten, and Aiden Kersten. Further survived by a brother: Hans (Nancy) Feld; sister: Glenna Gauthier and a sister-in-law: Marge Feld.
In addition to his wife, Grace, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Gertrude (Leo) Jennerjohn, Ronald (Lorraine) Feld, Rueben (Ruth) Feld, Bernie Feld and a brother-in-law: Jack Gauthier.
Family and friends may visit at Faith Lutheran Church, 2335 S Webster Ave, Green Bay, on Tuesday, January 19, from 10:00am until 10:45am. Funeral service will follow at 11:00am with Rev. Joshua Errer officiating and a live stream may be accessed at www.flcgb.com. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting with arrangements.
Memorials in Edwin’s honor may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Green Bay.
Our family wishes to extend our profound gratitude to his special caregiver Cindy Mueller for the extraordinary care and comfort she gave our dad.