Edward Ferdinand Kehl, Jr. passed away peacefully on February 2, 2025 surrounded by his children in Taylorsville, Utah. The first born of Edward Kehl, Sr. and Glenda Kehl on November 24, 1939, Ed was one of eight children.

Ed’s early life’s circumstances required him to have strength and resilience, two qualities that defined him as a man.

Ed was blessed to find love twice in his life; with his first wife Gloria, and his second wife Sally. Though his unions gave him eight beautiful children, Ed suffered the loss of his wife Gloria and his three children Tara, Trisha, and Trent to an automobile accident, and later, his wife Sally to illness.

As a young father, Ed self-educated himself on food and nutrition and developed strict dietary guidelines for him and his family that, at the time, may have seemed extreme, but is now considered mainstream.

A man of strong convictions, Ed’s life was defined by a work ethic that knew few limits; a trait he passed on to all his kids.

Ed did what he could and needed to in order to provide for his family, at times working three jobs. When he wasn’t at one of his jobs, Ed was rarely at rest. Whether it was meticulously maintaining his yard and garden, building things, or making sure his cars were the shiniest on the block. Ed never sat idle, and certainly never just talked about doing something, he acted and let the work speak for itself.

Ed encouraged creativity and thinking outside the box with his kids. If a project was started it had to be finished. If supplies and resources were limited, it had to be figured out. The expectation was that it was completed.

His passion for pigeon racing is symbolic of his commitment. At age 12, Ed developed an interest in the sport of pigeon racing. Over the course of his life, his interest grew into a passion; breeding and training his birds to be winners, making a name for himself within the bird community. Ed was a real ‘birdman’ who developed a strict diet and vitamin regimen for his ‘money birds’ that he took great pride in.

Ed is survived by and very proud of his children; Troy (Deborah), Tod (Teresa, “the Wife”), Jeff (Kerstin), Adriann (Marc), and Jared, and 18 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Dad, you taught us we can do hard things and to never give up. To have pride in our work and in the Kehl name and always have each other's back. In your passing we cried together, laughed together, and reunited. There is no more pain, your good lives on. Until we meet again. We love you.

A special thank you, to dad’s siblings who were always there for him and Toni his neighbor who brought him dinner every night.

A graveside service for Eddie will be held Monday, February 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah 84120.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-valley-city-ut/edward-kehl-12234031