Dr. Edward William Lean, Jr.

Dr. Edward W. Lean, Jr, unexpectedly went to meet his God on May 25, 2025. Husband, father, brother, doctor and Colonel were many of the roles he served touching the lives of numerous individuals. He was born Dec 22, 1940, to Edward W. Lean and Hilda Raby Lean in South Bend, IN. He was a proud alumnus of Old Riley High School and continued his education at the University of Chicago. Ted, as family and friends knew him, graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine and came to Kalamazoo, MI to do his internship at Borgess Hospital. It was there he met a young nurse who captured his heart, Yvonne Annette Korabik, and they were wed on May 11, 1968, and have been together for 57 years. Shortly after this Ted served honorably in the United States Army, being stationed at Schofield Barracks, Fort Dix, and Fort Benning before taking a hiatus from the military in 1973.

In 1974, he moved with his wife and three young children to a small farming community in Southwest Michigan where he would live the rest of his life. He began as a Family Physician at 305 Oak Street and watched as the practice and community grew. He also saw his family grow with the birth of his last child, his daughter Susie. He practiced in Paw Paw for many years touching countless lives and also as the director of Hope Nursing Home and then Bronson Commons. During this period, he was moved to serve his country again and joined the USAR. As a reservist he participated in humanitarian missions in Central America and in Europe with Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. He retired from the USAR in 2000 as a Colonel, proud to have served his country faithfully.

While all of this was happening in his professional life he was greatly involved in his other passions, his family and his land. He tried his best to always be home for dinner and his children fondly remember him reading Tarzan novels to them before bed. They do not as fondly remember the many hours spent clearing brush, planting trees and plants, mowing, spraying and making his yard and land a little piece of paradise. He could often be found after work or weekends with his pruners and cart going to work in another area, the work was never done. He actually became a Master Gardener and Master Woodsman, and his love of nature was passed to his children. He attended his children’s sporting events, even though he was not always sure what was going on, and other activities as time allowed.

A shining moment in his life was when he became a Catholic in 2022. His faith became a beacon for him and a support as he dealt with life’s challenges. He could be often found reading about Pope Francis and other books of faith, to the point we joked that the Conclave may call him in.

Ted was preceded in death by a son, David Edward and a daughter Amy. He is survived by his wife Yvonne; son Eric (Alicia), their daughters Alyssandra and Madelyn; son John (Marci) with children David, Laura, William and Henry; daughter Susie (Bret) Flanders and their sons Gabriel and Benjamin, a sister Barbara Pogoni as well as cousins, relatives by marriage and many nieces and nephews.

Ted will be missed dearly, but we know he is at peace with his Lord and his example will continue to be a source of strength for those who knew him and know he is forever in our hearts.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. A Rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 209 N. Brown Street, Paw Paw.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations and memorials be made to St. Mary Church in Paw Paw, or the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.