Nola Bernadine (Johnson) Eskelsen 1923 - 2017

SORENSEN, JOHNSON, ESKELSEN, BURTON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-volunteer (email)
Date: 4/11/2017 at 22:03:13

Onawa Democrat
1 March 2017

Nola (Johnson) Eskelsen, 93, of Onawa, Iowa formerly of Moorhead, Iowa died Saturday, February 18, 2017 at her residence at Premier Estates in Onawa, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Iowa with Pastor Carla Johnsen, officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Valley Cemetery, Moorhead, Iowa. Visitation will be 10:00 A.M. until service time Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa.

Nola Bernadine was born at Moorhead, Iowa on October 21, 1923, the fourth child of A.J. and Lena (Sorensen) Johnson.

Farm living with three brothers and three sisters, cousins, and close neighbors was a cherished way of life. She went to rural Bailer School and was a graduate of Moorhead Public School. She furthered her education at Dana College for one year and later at Iowa State Teachers College. She taught two years at Spring Valley Highview rural school and later three years as the fifth and sixth grade teacher in the Moorhead Public School.

On October 4, 1945 she married Page Eskelsen, son of Edward and Marie (Burton) Eskelsen at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Iowa where both were baptized and confirmed. Page served a one year commitment to the United States Signal Corp. in Germany and following his discharge, returned to his chosen vocation of farming and in 1960, bought their farm west of Moorhead.

Nola was a homemaker and helper and they raised two sons, Edward Craig and Joel Martin. Page passed away on March 31, 1986, and a year later, Nola moved to town where she remained active in the church as well as community affairs. Nola helped organize the Moorhead Cultural Center and worked countless hours there and with the Loess Hills Hospitality Association and its gift shop.

Nola was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed the simple things in life – the home, garden, flowers, and quilting. She enjoyed and appreciated many close friendships through the years. Her son, Craig, passed away in September of 2012 leaving another void in her life, but his widow, Lois, and other family members sustained her. Nola moved from her Moorhead home in October of 2013 to Premier Estates and there added new friends during her final years.

Left to mourn her passing is son, Joel and Joyce (Spencer) Eskelsen; grandchildren, Mida (Tedd) Lehtinen and their children, Eli and Anna; Eric Eskelsen and wife, Jen Samson; Jill (Jeff) Berg and children, Jeremiah and Jamison; Jodi (John) Druckenmiller and children, Rose and Remy; Jenny (Craig) Galles; Jorie (Josh) Gerik and children, Sullie, Hudson, and Ellis; brother, Carroll (Jeanne) Johnson; sister-in-law, Ardis Seitzinger; brother-in-law, Ernie Schroder; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Page; son, Craig, daughter-in-law, Lois preceded her in death as well as sisters, Evelyn (Irvin) Hansen, LaVonne (John) Woffington, and Rosalie Schroder; and brothers, Howard (Bernice) Johnson and Virgil (Leone) Johnson.

Memorial contributions may be made in Nola's memory to Bethesda Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Iowa.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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