Emma D. (Eekhoff) NELSON

EEKHOFF, NELSON, EENHUIS, DUVALL, MACK, RIGGS, BUENTING

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

June 27, 1930 --- July 27, 2017

Emma “Em” D. Nelson, 87, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and good friend, Marj, made her way with dignity and courage to Heaven, Thursday, July 27, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Memorial services for Emma will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Goodell Community Hall, 315 Broadway Street in Goodell, Iowa with Pastor Karen Foster officiating. Burial will take place at Belmond Cemetery. Visitation and sharing of memories will take place one hour prior to the memorial service at the Goodell Community Hall and will continue following the service.

Em was born June 27, 1930 in Kanawha, Iowa. Her faith began at an early age and she was baptized soon after that decision. The daughter of George and Hannah (Eenhuis) Eekhoff, she met Ozzie in the late 40’s at the Goodell Fire Hall. She then married Robert “Ozzie” Nelson on January 4, 1948 in Clarion, Iowa. Through the years, Emma worked several different jobs, but her favorite was as a Mary Kay cosmetics consultant. Her passion, however, was at home cooking up wonderful meals and favorites for her family. Em and Oz spent their recreation time golfing and Em became one of the area’s best women golfers. She was a club champion at both Clarmond and Belmond Country Clubs in the 60’s and 70’s. Some of her fondest memories were Ozzie and her wintering in Florida, Arizona and Texas. Later in life, she and her friend Marj could be found on the area’s Bingo circuit. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary since 1949.

Emma is survived by her sons, Terry (Carla) Nelson of Rochester, Minnesota, and Tyler Nelson of Thornton, Iowa; daughter Tammy (Wayne) DuVall of Goodell, Iowa; grandchildren Jeremiah, Joshua and Jonathan Nelson, Anna DuVall and Spencer Nelson; brothers Jake Eekhoff of Atkin, Minnesota, and Hemmo Eekhoff of Belmond, Iowa; sister Hannah Mack of Kennewick, Washington; special caregiving friends Cathy Troll of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Phil Seely of Belmond, Marj Aldrich of Rowan, Iowa, and Marcha Willwerth of Belmond.

Emma is preceded in death by her parents, George and Hannah Eekhoff, her husband Robert D. Nelson, brother George Eekhoff and sisters Marie (Don) Riggs and Cindy (Bill) Buenting.

Memorial gifts may be directed to VFW Auxiliary Post 4244, 240 East Main Street, Belmond, Iowa, 50421 or the Belmond Historical Society, 223 East Main Street, Belmond, Iowa, 50421. Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond are handling the arrangements.

http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/emma-em-d-eekhoff-nelson/