Eilts, John (1934 - 2017)

EILTS, SCHREIBER, ROTH, CLARK, SCHULTZ, TROLL, CARL, HANSEN, JOHANNSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 5/3/2017 at 13:36:24

Name of deceased: John Richard Eilts

Aged: 82 yrs, 4 mo, 24 days

Residence: Grand Island, NE (formerly of Harlan, IA)

Born: Nov. 23, 1934; Wiota, IA

Died: April 16, 2017; CHI Skilled Care Clinic (leukemia)

Funeral services: Graveside: Thursday, April 20, 2017; Layton Township Cemetery, Walnut, IA

Survived by: Wife of 59 years, Barbara; children, Christie (spouse, the late Dan) Schreiber of Eagle, NE, Randal (spouse, Lori) Eilts of Heath, TX, Brenda (spouse, Mark) Roth of Camarillo, CA, Laurie (spouse, Ed) Clark of Brenham, TX and Melissa (spouse, Tim) Schultz of Platte City, MO; 15 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois (spouse, Louie) Troll of Walnut, IA, and Edna Carl of Corning, IA; brother, Ross (spouse, Linda) Eilts of Massena, IA; nieces; nephews; friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Herman & Wilma (nee Hansen) Eilts; in-laws, Arnold and Maxine Johannsen; brothers-in-law, Darryl Johannsen and Jeffery Carl; son-in-law, Daniel Schreiber

Education: attended the Cass County (IA) Country grade schools and went to Atlantic and Walnut High Schools; graduated from Walnut (IA) High School, Class of l953; was active in 4-H and FFA, and was Cass County 4-H president. Graduated from Iowa State University in June 1958 with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry.

Religious affiliation: baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic, IA; member, First-Faith United Methodist Church, Grand Island, NE

Military service: U. S. Army, stationed at Ft. Leonardwood, MO and Colorado Springs, CO.

Marriage: Barbara Louise Johannsen; Jan. 25, 1958; location not provided

Employment: was a proud member of the “National Champion Livestock Judging Team” for Iowa State in 1956 as well as the Iowa State Dairy Judging Team. Summer employment while attending college included jobs at Page, Guthrie and Shelby County Extension offices. From 1958 through 1960, he was employed as Youth Assistant for Shelby County Extension Service; employed at Purina Feeds in Harlan from 1960 to 1963, and then by Cox Grain Co. in Tennant, IA from 1963 to 1968. From 1968 until 1973, he lived in Wahoo, NE, and was employed as a District Manager for Trojan Seed Co. Next, moving his family to Grand Island, NE, he was employed as the Agronomist for Trojan Seed Co. from 1973 until 1976. Lastly, John was District & Regional Sales Manager for Moews Seed Company from March 1976 until his retirement in July 2006.

Hobbies/Interests: member, American Institute of Agronomists; former member, IOOF Lodges of Harlan, IA and Grand Island, NE; enjoyed working in his vegetable garden; loved all Husker sporting events; enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, especially playing pitch with them, going to their school activities, and visiting with them at every opportunity.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; apfelfuneralhome.com