Eileen LaVar Edwardsm, age 96, of Rice Lake, WI, died Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Rice Lake. She was born on March 3, 1929 to Harry and Lilly Miller in Dallas, WI. She attended a rural grade school, a two year High School in Dallas, WI and graduated from Barron High School. In 1950 she married Freeman Leach and together they raised 3 children until his death in 1972. Her longest employment was 25 years at Wright Products until retirement at 65. In 1978 she married Jerry Edwards and their mutual interest in genealogy led to some travels for family history.

Eileen’s First trip to Europe with her 2 daughters and later with Jerry to Scandinavian Countries. There they met and stayed with distant cousins.

Eileen is survived by her husband, Jerry Edwards; a son, Gregory (Lisa) Leach; 2 daughters, LaVar (Jim) Lashmett and Rebecca (Terry) Sadowski; stepdaughter, Theresa Wardell; 7 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; several great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren; a sister, Cathy (Larry) Wohlk; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Freeman Leach; her parents, Harry and Lilly Miler; 2 sisters, Beulah (Ted) Curts) and Lois (Richard) Schultz; 2 brothers, Loren (Joanne) Miller and Earl Miller (Carole) Miller; and a step son, Dennis Kuhrt.

Funeral Services will be held at 11AM Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Faith Lutheran Church in Cameron, Jane Snowden officiating, with interment in Nora Cemetery in Rice Lake.

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to the Heart Association, St. Judes Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital or American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

Last Update: Feb 16, 2026 10:22 am CST