Eilenstine, Raymond Everett - 1945-2011

EILENSTINE, EKDOM, FRUIT, SHERWOOD, WILSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/21/2024 at 12:46:57

Raymond Everett Eilenstine, 66, died October 13, 2011 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa due to complications from brain cancer. Funeral Services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Bruce Funeral Home in Spring Hill, Kansas with burial in Spring Hill Cemetery. The visitation will be held Wednesday, October 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., also at the funeral home. A celebration of life will be held Sunday afternoon, November 6 in Burlington, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, an education scholarship fund for disadvantaged youth will be established in Raymond's honor. Donations may be sent to Bruce Funeral Home, PO Box 7, 712 South Webster Street, Spring Hill, Kansas 66083, 913-592-2244.
Raymond was born in Paola, Kansas on July, 24, 1945, the son of Hubert Clark and Thelma Lee (Fruit) Eilenstine. Raymond graduated from Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill, Kansas, in 1963. He attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas and then finished his bachelor's degree in psychology at Kansas State Teachers College in 1967. Later he earned his Master's Degree in Counseling at NE Missouri State in Kirksville, Missouri.
A longtime teacher and counselor, Raymond taught 24 years at Burlington Community High School in Burlington, Iowa, where he was a classroom teacher, counselor and director of alternative education. Raymond also was a longtime teacher at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa, where he taught Psychology and was department head of Arts & Sciences. While teaching at SCC, he earned two outstanding teacher awards from Western Illinois University. He retired this year after 46 years of teaching. In 1965, Raymond married his high school sweetheart, Alice Kathleen Wilson, and they were married 46 years. They have two daughters, Dawn Ekdom and Mindy Sherwood. Dawn is married to Steven Ekdom and they have three daughters, Madelyn, Joscelyn and Gracelyn. Mindy is married to Ben Sherwood, and they have a son, Ethan, and a daughter, Emma. Raymond loved his family, his students, teaching, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Raymond is also survived by his mother-in-law, Merrial J. Wilson; brothers, Don, Duane, Larry and Gregg; sisters, Margie, Barbara and Patricia; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Annette and Betty.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Tuesday, October 18, 2011, page 4B