Pastor Ed Villalba

Pastor Edward Villalba, age 84, formerly of Niles, Michigan and Granger, Indiana, most recently resided in Kingsley, MI. Ed, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor to pastors, counselor, woodworker, and Michigan fan, died peacefully in his home on Monday, January 19th, with his family around him after an extended battle with cancer. His family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care of the hospice staff who supported them in his final days.

Born on October 7, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan to Felix A. and Celia M (Delagarza) Villalba, Ed graduated from Taylor (Michigan) Center High School. He continued his education at Detroit Bible College and Cedarville (Ohio) University before beginning his vocation in Christian Ministry at Youth For Christ in Detroit and Arlington Heights, Illinois.

This launched Ed into a lifetime of ministry as a pastor in multiple churches throughout Michigan and Indiana.

Ed also served with Life Action Ministries (Buchanan, Michigan) first as a Seminar Director and Teacher and then again, years later returning as a retreat leader and counselor for over 1,000 pastors and their wives.

He has also served as a faithful, wise counselor to many individuals and couples, even up to his last week of life.

Ed has been a longtime member of Gospel City Church in Granger, Indiana, and for the past few months has attended The Tabernacle in Buckley, Michigan.

When he wasn’t pastoring or counseling, Ed enjoyed woodworking, and created wonderful pieces of furniture for his family. Even there, in his shop, he was led to complete each project by the example set in Philippians 1:6 “ . . . He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion . . .” Ed was an enthusiastic fan of the University of Michigan football team, and of the Detroit Lions, watching the games “with” his daughter. Even though they lived in different towns, they spent the games texting back and forth, because while Ed loved sports, his greatest passion was his family.

Early in his ministry, while with YFC in Arlington Heights, he met Gayle Kasen, who he married on June 6, 1963 and with whom he celebrated sixty-two years of marriage. Ed and Gayle were sadly preceded in death by their son, Timothy Keith Villalba on November 7, 2015. Ed was also preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, Richard Villalba in 1980

Surviving family includes his wife, Gayle Kasen Villalba and their daughter, Jody (& John) Hackbarth of Kingsley; grandchildren – to whom he is affectionately known as “Morfy” – Heather (& Aaron) Mayes, Hailey (& Rev. Adam) Dollar, Hudson (& Jennifer) Hackbarth, and Caleb Villalba; great-grandchildren, Daniel Edward Mayes, Grace Mayes, Peter Mayes, Leo Dollar, Oliver Dollar, Birdie Dollar, Kasen Hackbarth, and Roman Hackbarth; Ed’s siblings, Bertha Pro of Bloomington, Illinois, Martha Garrett of Pahrump, Nevada, Gloria Dourth of Florida, and Ida Talbot of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

The Memorial Service for Pastor Ed Villalba will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Gospel City Church, 52277 Hickory Road in Granger, Indiana with Lead Pastor Micah Klutinoty officiating. The family is gathering privately for a Committal Service at Smith Chapel Cemetery in Milton Township, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Gospel City Church from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Pastor Ed may be made to Life Action Ministries, 2727 Niles-Buchanan Road, Buchanan, Michigan 49107; https://lifeaction.org/. Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Memories and condolences may be left online at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Psalms 90:10 tell us that “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years”. Ed exceeded that promise, and used those years – including the extras – pursuing his passions. Yes, football, and woodworking, but moreso preaching, pastoring, and counseling; and more important is the love that he had for those who he pastored and counseled, and for his family. He and his son shared a motto: “Live so to be missed”, and they did; but beyond that goal, Ed’s life fulfilled a command - given by a fellow carpenter two thousand years ago – to Love God and Love People.