Edwin Lee Wade

Edwin Lee Wade passed away on August 17, 2018.  He was eighty-six.  The cause of death was a heart attack.

Mr. Wade attended Columbia University and received his master’s degree in international law from the University of Chicago.   He was subsequently appointed vice consul in the State Department, where he met his wife, Nancy (Sells) Wade, also a vice consul.    Under State Department rules at the time, Mrs. Wade was compelled to resign her position, whereupon Mr. Wade took a position in the private sector with Chrysler in Geneva, Switzerland.   He returned to the U.S. in 1961 and worked as an intelligence analyst for the CIA from 1961-1965.  After continuing legal studies at night, he received his law degree from Georgetown University, whereupon Mr. Wade moved to the Chicago area and built a successful career as an attorney.   He retired as corporate secretary for U.S. Gypsum Corporation in 1993.

A child of the depression, Mr. Wade had a passion for the policies of the New Deal, and the new structures of international law that followed WW II.  He was the author of two books on constitutional law.   Mr. Wade admired the beauty of the Metropolitan Opera, the grace of Joe Di Maggio, and the wisdom of Yogi Berra.   His gardening skills, honed with victory gardens as a child during WW II, found their full expression in later life.

Edwin Wade was born on January 26, 1932 in Yonkers, NY.  He was preceded in death by a brother, William, in 1935; by his father, James; his mother, Helen; and his wife of 57 years, Nancy.  He is survived by two sons, James Lee (Katherine Gordon) of San Diego, CA; and Jeffrey Kim (Marcella Beni) of Chicago, IL; in addition to two grandchildren, Bronwen Elizabeth Wade of Sacramento, CA; and Gethin Stuart Wade of Phoenix, AZ.

Visitation will be held from 4-9pm, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. Visitation will continue from 10am until time of funeral service at 11am, Thursday, August 23, 2018 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake. Interment to follow at Windridge Memorial Park, Cary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, www.prince-of-peace.org.

Arrangements were entrusted to Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, Crystal Lake.