Edwin Lee Downing

On February 12, 2026, Edwin Lee Downing, age 88, passed peacefully from his earthly life, surrounded by his loving family, to be welcomed home by his Lord. Although much of his life was worked and lived in Oshkosh, he was actually born in New Concord, OH to Herbert and Mildred Downing, missionaries with African Inland Mission who then remained in the U.S. for the duration of World War II. When Edwin was 9 years old, his family returned to Kijabe, Kenya, where Ed attended Rift Valley Academy (1947-56), the boarding school where his parents worked. Kijabe was within 100 miles (but several days' journey) from Kangunda, the place where Ed's grandfather, Lee Downing, and his bride, Blanche, initially stationed as pioneer missionaries to Africa in 1901. Both of Ed's parents worked extraordinarily hard to serve the educational and personal needs of their boarding school students, his father as principal, orchestra conductor, and facilities engineer, his mother as math teacher, French teacher, and head of hospitality. Ed's life-in-Africa mission experience taught him not only academics, but also a strong commitment to hard work, self-sufficiency, and service to others.

He arrived at Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) with less than $100 in his pocket. His hard work ethic soon had him working three different jobs on campus, including one tending boilers in the heating plant on night shift. This job gave him a chance to study and take naps in between performing his responsibilities, while still earning a wage. He successfully completed his Science degree at Wheaton in 1960, debt-free and with an ROTC Commission Rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was then admitted to and attended Jefferson Medical College, earning his MD (Medical Doctor) degree in 1964. In spite of the rigors of medical school, Ed did allow himself the distraction of corresponding with and courting a cute brunette he knew from Wheaton, by the name of Lois Epp. Lois had also attended Wheaton College and grown up in Africa, in the country of Belgian Congo. They first met at an ice-skating party at her grandparents' home in Long Lake, IL, a home in which they were eventually married in 1963. The newlyweds' honeymoon was blended into a medical internship Ed completed with a missionary doctor, fondly known as "Doc Probst", in the remote areas of Northern Kenya and neighboring Uganda. During these travels, Lois contracted a nasty case of malaria. Despite its inauspicious beginnings, their marriage has lasted 63 years!

Their first years of marriage involved many moves and many changes. In the midst of a busy life during Ed's last year of medical school at Jefferson in Philadelphia, Lois, a nurse, found herself physically throwing up at some of the pungent odors she breathed as she walked the "quaint" streets to do shopping and laundry. Some careful analysis by the newly wedded nurse-and-doctor-duo uncovered the truth that the nausea was not caused exclusively by malaria nor by poorly disposed waste along the streets where she walked, but instead indicated a new young companion was eager to join their adventures. She made her full appearance at their next stop on the island of Oahu, at Tripler Army Hospital, where Ed was completing his Medical Internship, 1964-65. They named her Brenda.

In the meantime, Ed's Army Medical career was also moving ahead: While at Tripler, Ed earned the rank of Captain, then advancing to Battalion Surgeon at Schofield Barracks in Oahu. He deployed for Cu Chi, Vietnam as Medical Company Commander beginning of 1966. While there, he served bravely and self-sacrificially, as recognized by a Combat Medical Badge, a Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Valorous Unit Award, and National Defense Service Medal. Additionally, he built a Chapel while at Cu Chi. In God's gracious answer to Lois' many impassioned prayers for his safety, he returned from Vietnam at Christmas time, before moving to Aberdeen, Maryland to become Chief of Clinics at Kirk Army Hospital in early 1967. There he received the Army Commendation Medal and rank of Major. In October 1967, the reunited couple welcomed a new companion with hearts full of gratitude. They named her Sandra.

Soon after, the family moved to Illinois so Ed could complete 3 years of specialty training and residency at Hines Loyola VA Medical Center of Ophthalmology in Chicago, (1968-71).

Finally, after several long years of school, internships, training, and residencies, Ed began his own private practice in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1971. The community quickly embraced their new ophthalmologist, and he worked hard to earn their confidence and trust. His days in the office were long, but he always took time to listen carefully to each patient and find the most suitable treatment plan for each. The lessons of his youth in Africa carried through into the practice of his new profession: a strong commitment to hard work, self-sufficiency, and service to others.

Professionally, Dr. Downing excelled at bringing insight and leadership to several medical associations. Beginning in 1968 he became a member of the American Medical Association, and he continued an active role in AMA State and County Medical Societies his entire professional life. He was Secretary/Treasurer (1982-84) and President of the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Society of Ophthalmology (1976). He was actively involved in the Oshkosh Area Physicians Association, American Board of Ophthalmology, and became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. At Mercy Medical Center, he was the Chief of Surgery 1980-81, Secretary 1985-87, and Chief of Staff 1988-89. In 1999, he was selected to receive the "Wisconsin Physician Citizen of the Year Award".

In addition to serving the needs of his patients, and the surrounding medical community at large, Ed found ways to serve in the local non-medical community around him: He led a Bible study for 20 years, he was active in the local Rotary Club 1971-2006 (Director in 1992), he served as President of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce 1984-85 (Board of Directors 1982-84, Medical Affairs Committee 1980-85), he was Chair of the United Way Health Committee 1995-2001, and he even played a role in shaping the community within which he would eventually reside in his final years, acting on the Medical Advisory Committee, Board of Directors, and Executive Board of Evergreen Retirement Community (1978-97).

As Ed and Lois entered their "Snowbirding" phase of life, they always felt most at home where they could find a local church fellowship to worship with. In Arizona, they worshiped at Desert View Bible Church with daughter Brenda's family, and in Sturgeon Bay, they were welcomed with open arms into Friends Community Church by longtime friends, Dave and Nancy Bontempo.

Combining his childhood in missions, his family's legacy in international education, and his commitment to help those who could not afford or access medical eyecare in their part of the world, Ed's desire to serve also extended beyond his immediate community. Ed and Lois traveled multiple times to Kenya, Zaire, Romania, and China to not only perform surgeries, but to teach local health professionals in those countries the techniques needed for treatment. When possible, they also provided the tools and equipment needed, almost completely at their own expense.

Edwin is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Lois Downing; his daughters Brenda (& Mark) Bosley, and Sandy (& Edward) Brunk; his grandchildren Bennett (& Rachel) Bosley, Mitch (& Kaitie) Brunk, Stephen Bosley, Grace (& Jordan) Keller, Hailee Brunk; and great-grandchildren Branson Brunk and Pierson Brunk; his siblings Ruth Ann (& Joseph) Miano, and Martin (& Norma) Downing; siblings-in-law Kendall Grass and Thelma Downing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Mildred Downing; and his siblings Gayle Grass and Glenn Downing.

Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the ShareHaven staff at Evergreen Retirement Community and AseraCare Hospice, for their tireless labor of love in caring for Edwin in his final days with them.

Edwin's Life will be remembered and celebrated on Saturday, May 2, at Resurrection Presbyterian Church, 1205 Congress Ave, Oshkosh. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am, service at 11:00 am, followed by a lunch reception for a time to share memories of Ed with one another.

In honor of Edwin's vision for overseas medical missions, and in lieu of flowers or trees, the family requests donations instead be sent to Samaritan's Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.