Edward Julien Vanmoerkerque, 67, a proud father and veteran, died peacefully Saturday, September 2, 2017 in Evans, Georgia and is now at rest with the Lord.

He leaves his wife of 5 years, Brenda Seago; his sister Helene Brien of Rhode Island; his son Alex (USMC) and wife Jackie (USN) of Coronado, CA and their two children Aleksandra (5) and Elise (2); his son Karl-Christian and his wife Amy of Chapel Hill, NC and their two children Emma (8) and Claire (4); his step-daughter Sara and her husband Jason Illig of Richmond, VA and their two children Nash (6) and Corbin (5); his step-daughter Cary Seago-Blanton of Fairfax, VA; his step-son Cy Seago-Blanton of Richmond, VA; and many close friends.

Edward was born 1950 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Raised a devoted Catholic – he felt called to serve the Lord and attended the Seminary. Due to world events, he left the Seminary and joined the United States Marine Corps. He played an integral role in Operation Dewey Canyon with Third Battalion Ninth Marines during the Vietnam War. Over the next 20 years, he continued to serve his Country and the Marine Corps with dedication, commitment and pride and retired from service in 1988 as a Master Sergeant. His assignments in the Marine Corps following Vietnam included: MCLB Albany, GA; NAS South Weymouth, MA; HQMC in Arlington, VA as a Monitor; and Navy and Marine Forces Atlantic in England.

In the early 1970’s Ed met the love of his life Ellen (Lee) Martin, a PhD psychologist from Boston, MA and they exchanged their vows during the holy sacrament of matrimony in 1973. In 1976 and 1977, Edward and Lee were blessed with their most valued accomplishments in life, as they witnessed the births of their long-awaited sons Alex William and Karl-Christian. Over the course of the next 20 years Ed and Lee lived life to the fullest overseas, experienced many countries and cultures, as they lived in England, Germany, and Iceland.

After serving his Country, Ed continued to have a positive impact within the DOD and commercial interests overseas. Post-retirement from the Marine Corps, he served as a European Transaction Consultant for Nintendo, a Compliance Inspector for the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force (UK); and as a Supply/Logistics Consultant for the U.S. Navy in Keflavik, Iceland. He was an active member of the Farmville, VA Community, his hometown after retirement from the Service. He was also an active member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church from 1998-2011.

As a widower, joy was brought back into Ed’s life in 2011 when he met and wed Brenda Seago, current Professor and Director of Libraries, Augusta University. They moved to Evans, Georgia in 2012 and he remained active within the community, veteran activities, book clubs, and he thoroughly enjoyed observing nature and wildlife.

Ed lived life to the fullest and his diverse talents and places he lived were a testimony to this. He was a published poet, was fluent in more than ten languages and also played semi-professional hockey in both the United States and overseas. His family and friends brought laughter and love into his last years of life and he died a proud and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and Marine.

Friends and family will be received for his viewing at Shorter Funeral Home in Farmville, VA on Sunday evening September 10, 2017 from 6:00pm – 7:30 pm. Mass will be performed at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church on Monday September 11, 2017 at 10:00 am followed by a Full Military Honor’s Ceremony at Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia at 12:00 noon. Any donations received will be forwarded to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in memory of Master Sergeant Edward J. Vanmoerkerque.

Shorter Funeral Home is serving the family.