EDMUND JULIUS VON NORDECK

Ed was born in El Centro, California to George and Selma Von Nordeck. The family soon moved to Corona, California and purchased a pool hall called Doc's Place, which they operated until the late 1960s. Ed became interested in the railroad during his school age years and would spend hours at the Corona Santa Fe Station getting educated in railroading. Out of high school his plans were to work for the Santa Fe Railroad, but due to back problems, that didn't happen. He was hired by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the Los Angeles Reservation office at the age of 19 because of his knowledge and enthusiasm of passenger rail trains.

Life changed in 1953 when Uncle Sam called and required 24 months of service. His basic training was at Camp San Luis Obispo, California; followed by 18 months in Berlin, Germany during the Korean War. He returned to civilian life working for Southern Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles. In 1957 he met a new employee, Mary Lee, who later became his wife on December 4, 1958. The marriage came with a readymade family, as Mary Lee had a three year old daughter, Lori. In 1963 Ed left his job with Southern Pacific and the family moved to Perris, California to become resident managers of the Orange Empire Trolley Museum. He ran special rail tours from Los Angeles to the Ramona Outdoor Play in Hemet as fund raisers for the museum. In 1965 "Let's Travel Tours" was started by Ed and Mary Lee in order to operate railroad trips traveling throughout the southwest and Mexico. Let's Travel was among the first travel agents to sell Amtrak tickets. They were honored to be part of the "Golden Spike Society" for 20 years for their large volume of sales. The passing of Ed is a huge loss for the rail passenger community, for those who were privileged to know him as a friend and for everyone who values the development and improvement of the nation's intercity and commuter trains.

Ed is survived by his wife Mary Lee, daughter and son-in-law Lori and Dane Clarke and granddaughter Heather Clarke. Service will be at Riverside National Cemetery on January 6th at 10:15 am. Donations may be made to Southern California Railway Museum, Research Library, P.O. Box 548, Perris, CA 92572 or Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, 6165 Industrial Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

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