Ervin R. Redding, age 80, died peacefully at home with his family nearby on Dec. 28, 2013. He was a loving husband and father, and will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.

He was born April 29, 1933 in Stevens Point, WI to the late Erven and Helen (Peabody) Redding.

Ervin attended St. Stephen’s Grade School and PJ Jacobs High School (class of 1952).  He was an Eagle Scout and a Camp Counselor at Sunset Lake Boy Scout Camp while attending high school. He was awarded the Order of the Arrow during his scouting years. Ervin was the Captain of the 1952 high school basketball team. They were called “the Fightingest Team in the State” after losing their final game at the Wisconsin State Tournament to South Milwaukee High School. He lettered in basketball, football and track.

Ervin attended UWSP from 1952 to 1954. He was a member of the Basketball Team and President of the “S” Club. In 1954, he enlisted in the army and took his Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO. He was later stationed in Nancy, France with the 565^th Ord. Co. Service & Supply Unit. While in France, he was able to travel to Paris, Germany, Switzerland and Rome, Italy.  He was honorably discharged in 1956. Upon returning home, he re-entered UWSP and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Ervin married his high-school sweetheart, Patricia Lemancik, at St. Joseph Church in Stevens Point in 1957.

He was employed by Point Sporting Goods for 45 years and retired from his sales career in 1996.

Ervin loved sports, traveling, photography, gardening, camping, hiking and boating. He appreciated the beauty of nature in all settings. He was a member of the Elks Club and the American Legion. Ervin was very handy and was called upon by family and friends whenever something needed to be fixed.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia “Lemancik” Redding; his children,  Joseph of Stevens Point, Elizabeth (Anthony) Ziherl of Milwaukee, and Sandra (Mark) Giannoni of Appleton; and grandchildren, Marissa and Lucas Giannoni. He is further survived by his by his siblings, Lucille Knudtson, Mary Redding, Richard Redding, and Dorothy (Jim) Jajewski; and by many nieces & nephews, and cousins & friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Helen (Peabody) and Erven Redding, and sister, June Klish.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 3, 2014 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church with Rev. Thomas Lindner officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m. at Boston Funeral Home, and at the church on Friday from 10:00 am until the time of service. Burial will be held in St Stephen Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Marshfield Clinic, Stevens Point Cancer Center or Marshfield Clinic Heart Failure Center.