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https://www.rodabramsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/

Ed Gardhouse. February 29 1944 to July 12 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ed Gardhouse, a long time member of COTPA/OTTPA.

Ed started his pulling career in 1976 as a founding chair of the tractor pull at the Schomberg Fair. Soon after, he was instrumental in signing up the Schomberg pull with the newly formed Central Ontario Tractor Puller’s Association.

He started pulling with a $200 Oliver 88 standard tractor that was seized up and not running. He got the engine loose, and ran it as it was, competing, and getting his share of wins at COTPA events such as Schomberg, Blackstock, Brooklin, Sunderland, Markham, etc.

His pulling adventures soon turned into a 40 plus year gig as an announcer at pulls such as Markham, Schomberg, Cookstown and Bolton, as well as others. Being an auctioneer by trade lent itself very well to him being so comfortable and witty behind the microphone. It broke his heart to not be behind the microphone in Bolton this year, after at least 37 consecutive years of announcing there.

Back about 15 years ago, Ed was one of the committee members that got together and put a set of rules together to have garden tractors sanctioned with COTPA/OTTPA. He was very proud helping bring garden tractors into the mainstream that allowed people young and old to enjoy the sport of tractor pulling, and be a part of a great organization.

He competed in the stock altered garden tractor class up until 2024, and was proud to get a championship jacket in the stock altered class in 2022.

Not only was Ed a mentor to all, but he was a huge mentor to all of the younger kids that were apart of the garden tractor pulling group. All of the kids looked up to ‘Uncle Ed’ and adored him greatly. He would congratulate them all from the announcer’s stand, and was known to pull kids aside and give them one on one advice or encouragement. It was a unanimous decision by all to add Ed’s name to a Sportmanship Award that will be awarded each year at our banquet.

He truly loved his pulling family. He came out to as many events as he could in 2024 after having some health issues earlier in the year, and was very grateful of the gratitude that was shown to him by everyone in the pulling community.

The family is truly grateful for all of the messages, phone calls and emails that they have received so far from the pulling community. It has all made this difficult time for them that much more bearable.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Ed on July 27th from 1-5pm at the Trisan Centre in Schomberg. The family would invite those who are able to come to join them in sharing all of the memories and stories that they have of Ed.

Rest easy, Ed. No doubt you are calling Grant Middlebrook, Bruce Gowland, Wilson French, Ron French, Ralph McMullin and others that have left us, to the starting line.

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