Ed Tedeschi

"For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting
And His faithfulness is to all generations."
Psalm 100:5, NASB

Obituary

Edmund Louis Tedeschi Jr was born June 4th, 1941, in Niagara Falls, NY. The only child of Edmund Louis Sr and Joanne Tedeschi, his growing up years were spent in eight different northeastern cities as his father was the General Manager for Montgomery Ward stores. In every city they lived, his family was involved in ministry in the local Assemblies of God church. A strong math student, Ed assumed he would pursue engineering, but in the middle of his senior year, he sought the Lord for guidance about which engineering school to attend. Instead, he received a definite call to teach and preach the Word. He graduated from Marietta High School in Marietta, Ohio, in 1959 as valedictorian and senior class president.

As a freshman at Central Bible Institute and Seminary, Ed was invited to join a student team responsible for a small country church one hour out of Springfield. Midyear he became the team leader and pastor and purchased his first car (a 1953 Mercury) to provide transportation for the team. The following year, a lovely redhead, Becky Leverett, from California, arrived on campus. They soon became friends and both sang in the school traveling acappella choir, the King’s Choraliers. The summer before his senior year, Ed interviewed to work with David Wilkerson and led the team at the newly opened Chicago Teen Challenge, with Wilkerson flying in every two weeks as director. Ed and Becky wrote love letters every day that summer, became engaged in the Fall and married right after graduation on June 8th, 1963 at Bethel Temple, Turlock, California.

Ed received his BA in Bible from Central Bible College, Springfield, Missouri, in 1963 and his MA in Religion from Concordia Theological Seminary, St Louis, Missouri, in 1964. Pastor Ed Tedeschi was licensed and then ordained as an Assemblies of God minister in July 1966. He pastored the Assembly of God church plant in Cynthiana, Kentucky, for four years (1964-1968); First Assembly of God in Wheaton, Illinois, for three years (1971-1974); and Summit Church in St Paul, Minnesota, for thirty years (1977-2007).

Ed was a professor of New Testament theology and biblical languages (250+ student load) and Director of Christian Service for three years at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri (1968-1971); he served as the Dean of Students and a professor of New Testament theology for three years at Southern California College (now Vanguard University) in Costa Mesa, California (1974-1977); and he taught as adjunct faculty at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as well as in seminaries and Bible colleges on four continents.

He was an excellent communicator and brilliant theologian and scholar. Over his 65 years of ministry, he wrote hundreds of pastor’s columns and many articles. His book, Draw the Line A Little Farther: Biblical Ethics for Christian Living (published March 2026) is available on Amazon.com. A second book, a daily devotional compilation of his pastor’s columns, will be available soon.

Concurrent with pastoring and teaching, Ed served the Minnesota District of the Assemblies of God as Presbyter and Executive Presbyter for over thirty years and as the Assistant Superintendent for twenty years. He also served on a variety of executive boards, including North Central University, Minnesota Teen Challenge, Global University, ISUM (Institute for Advanced Ministerial Training and Enrichment), and the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God. Over his lifetime, including his forty-three years serving in ministry in Minnesota, he was a friend and mentor to countless individuals and pastors, many of whom went on to serve in ministry and start churches across the country and around the world.

Ed’s deep love for God and lifetime of continual in-depth study of God’s word formed the foundation for who he was, how he lived, and all he preached and taught. Pastor Ed’s life, ministry, teaching, and mentorship profoundly and eternally impacted all who knew him. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed as husband, Dad, Papa, Papa-Great, pastor, mentor, leader, and friend.

On May 18th, 2026, Ed was welcomed into heaven by God, his Lord and Saviour whom he loved. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Joanne Tedeschi, and his son-in-law, Jon Henry.

Ed is survived by his wife Becky (of almost 63 years); his three children – Renee and Flynn Clanton, Cheryl Henry, and Ted (Edmund) Tedeschi III; his fourteen grandchildren – Laurie and Danny Mullen, Rachel and Lucas Woodworth, Jonson and Heidi Henry, Sasha Jo and Seth Coleman, Ashley Tedeschi, Matthew Tedeschi, Brooks Clanton, Olivia and Brandon Clanton-Frederick, and Sophia Clanton; and his five great-grandchildren – River Coleman, David Mullen, Maverick Mullen, Lucy Woodworth, and Isaac Woodworth.

Memory wall

May 31, 2026

Dad, you were a safe harbor; a place of calm assurance for wounded and broken to rest and find healing and restoration. My heart felt protected, valued, and inspired within your heart. You always had the right word to say for each moment to bring strength, courage, wisdom, and peace.
I love you! I miss you!

Cheryl Henry

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