Agdrup B. Eriksen 1915-1998

ERIKSEN, STEINER, SALTZ, BROESELL, ENGLER, TAFOYA, SHOMBERG, RAVELING, KRESS

Posted By: Sharon K Hesebeck (email)
Date: 5/26/2014 at 12:00:42

Agdrup Eriksen
April 29, 1915
April 29, 1998

Agdrup Eriksen, 83, Peterson died Wednesday, April 29, 1998, at Spencer Municipal Hospital, Spencer.

Funeral services will be today at 10 a.m. at Warner Chapel, Spencer, with the Rev. David Nelson officiating

Masonic service will be conducted by the Evening Shade Lodge #312 A.F. & A.M. Military services will be conducted by the American Legion Glen Pedersen Post 1

Casket Bearers; Scott Saltz, Trent Eriksen, Joe Eriksen, Steven Engler, P.J. Eriksen, Todd Eriksen, John Eriksen, Sam Eriksen

Burial will be at North Lawn Memorial Park, Spencer

Aggie Eriksen was born on April 29, 1915 in Spencer, Iowa. His parents Sam and Anna Eriksen, both immigrated to America from Denmark and since Aggie was born on his grandfather's birthday they named him after Sam's father in Copenhagen; Agdrup Bernhart Eriksen. That is how he got his unique and often miss pronounced name, but most everyone just called him Aggie. He was the oldest of 5 children. As a young boy, Aggie joined the Boy Scouts, where he earned the lever of Eagle Scout and became a Scout Master. Aggie graduated from Spencer High School as President of his senior class and went on to work with his father and brother as brick mason.

He was an active member of the Masons and became the youngest. Master Mason the state of Iowa had ever had.

Aggie also studied architecture and worked as a draftsman for and engineering firm and a lumberyard until he started his own business as a masonry contractor in Peterson. He became known for his beautiful workmanship and attention to detail

In WWII, Aggie was the first person drafted from Clay County and he served in the Navy as a Ships Radio Operator

Aggie married his beloved wife of 58 years, Frances (Billie) Steiner in 1940 and together they raised 8 children (3 boys and 5 girls) They now have 20 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Providing for a healthy, happy family has been the major focus of both their lives. Aggie was strong, vigorous and healthy most all of his life.

In 12 years of school, he never missed a single day. As an adult, he was hardly ever sick, but most people probably don't know that as a young man, he lost his foot when it was shot during a hunting accident. Although he never had any prosthetics, Aggie learned to walk again with simply a padded boot and then resumed climbing scaffold, carrying blocks and planks and even walking on roofs to build chimneys. He hardly limped and he never complained.

Aggie loved fishing with his kids and grandkids, sketching pictures and doing calligraphy. He recently built a radio controlled airplane and taught himself to use a home computer. He also really enjoyed playing the violin with Cherokee Symphony. More than anything Aggie tried to live his life with integrity and kindness and he was honest, decent, loving and hard working man.

He left this world on the same date he entered, April 29, his 83rd birthday. He met the challenge of liver cancer the way he lived his life, with courage, humor and determination. He made many wonderful contributions during his life time and he will always be much loved, much admired and much missed.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Frank Eriksen and one beloved grandson, Darrin

Aggie is survived by his wife, Billie and 8 children, Steve of Rockwell City, Iowa, Carol and her husband, Homer Saltz of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike and his wife, Linda of Gaza, Iowa, Sally and her husband, Dan Broessel of Shell Knob, Missouri, Joe of Austin, Texas, Mary Engler of Muscatine, Iowa, Sue of Austin, Texas and Lori and her husband, Paul Tafoya of Denver, Colorado; 20 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; three sisters and their husbands, Anna and Bob Schomberg and Grace and Gib Raveling all of Spencer and Shirley and Wayne Kress of Webb, Iowa

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