Edward "Ed" Mjolsnes

Aug 5, 1939 -

Jan 22, 2025

Edward "Ed" Mjolsnes passed away in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2025. Born in Detroit, Mich., Ed grew up with a deep sense of curiosity and a strong work ethic that would define his life. In the 1970s, he moved to Alaska to work on the pipeline, a decision that suited his engineering mind and independent spirit.

Ed was a mechanical engineer, with interests from automotive to aerospace, and came from a long line of engineers—following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

He believed engineering was a way to understand the world and inspire wonder in others. To that end, he taught physics at the university level and delighted in helping people see how things actually worked. His hobbies included building wildly overpowered cars—most famously a baby blue VW bus capable of beating Porsches off the line—and using them for kindness, like giving rides to kids walking to school in the Alaska cold. He was a proud Norwegian, attending cultural events through Sons of Norway. He was also a competitive swimmer, winning races into his 80s.

He was fanatical in the best and worst senses of the word: stubborn, curious, proud, quick-witted and unapologetically demanding. People tended to either love him or hate him; Ed didn't suffer fools, but he always cared deeply.

A devout Lutheran, Ed lived his faith through action. He volunteered extensively, including work with NICU families and people experiencing homelessness.

Ed designed and built his dream home entirely by hand, insisting on doing things right—even when that meant arguing with the city. His insistence on accessibility later proved invaluable when caring for his wife, Sandy, his partner of 50 years.

Ed is survived by his children, Arne and Grete. He will be remembered for his stubborn kindness, plaid shirts, ever-present hat and his belief that the best way to honor faith is to love your neighbor.

Consider donating to the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness in Ed's honor.

A memorial service will be held on Jan. 3, 2026, at 4 p.m., at Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage.